Frank E. Muller-Karger is a biological oceanographer (Professor) at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, where he directs the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing. He is of Hispanic descent via Puerto Rico, and while born in the U.S. he grew up in Venezuela. Muller-Karger conducts research on marine primary production using satellite remote sensing, large data sets, networking, and high-speed computing. This research helps in the location and monitoring of large-scale phenomena, understanding climate control and climate change, and in the interpretation of numerical models of the ocean. The focus of his present work is to assess the importance of continental margins, including areas of upwelling, river discharge, and coral reefs in the global carbon budget, using satellites that measure ocean color and sea surface temperature. Muller-Karger has worked hard to educate K-12 teachers in the region about the use of new technologies in oceanography through targeted workshops sponsored by NASA. He has also given lectures at various national educator societies, and has served as the science advisor for the Florida Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE). Muller-Karger was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. In 2005, he was appointed to the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council/National Academies. Muller-Karger previously received the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Award for Outstanding Contributions and the NASA Administrator Award for Exceptional Contribution and Service for supporting development of satellite technologies for ocean observation. Most recently (August 2007-August 2009) he served as Dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology or SMAST at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He has B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in marine science and a Masters degree in management and has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific publications. He speaks fluent Spanish and German.