Speaker:  Dr. Jim Masterson - Assistant Research Professor FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Dr. Jim Masterson is an Assistant Research Professor at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, Florida.  As part of the university instructional faculty, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in marine ecology, biodiversity, aquaculture and the
natural history of Ihe Indian River Lagoon.  His research interests include marine predator-prey dynamics and coastal ecosystem health. He has a keen interest in facilitating and expanding the use of telepresence as a tool to allow K-12, college and public audiences to participate in global at-sea scientific expeditions in real-time.

He has previously served as Director of the FAU Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Visitor Center which provides visitors with a close-up look at the research being undertaken at FAU Harbor Branch.  Jim received his B.S. in Ecology, Ethology and Evolution from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and received his Ph.D. in Marine Ecology from Florida Institute of Technology.