Wikipedia

Paula Bontempi

Paula Susan Bontempi is an oceanographer who has led the use of satellites in marine science during her positions in NASA and as the dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.

Paula Susan Bontempi
Alma materBoston College, Texas A&M, University of Rhode Island
Scientific career
InstitutionsNASA, University of Rhode Island
ThesisRemote sensing of bio -optical water types, phytoplankton seasonality, and algal pigments in ocean margin waters (2001)
Doctoral advisorJames Yoder

Research and career edit

Bontempi's Ph.D. analyzed imagery from the SeaWIFS satellite to characterize spatial variability in chlorophyll as observed from space and was the first research to reveal a spring phytoplankton bloom off the southeastern continental United States.[1] Following time at the University of Southern Mississippi, Bontempi moved on to Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry at NASA Headquarters. During time at NASA, Bontempi led a research portfolio of projects in carbon cycle science, in both terrestrial and aquatic systems, and worked to diversify the community at NASA.[2] In 2010, Bontempi served on the Committee of Visitors that advised the National Science Foundation's Ocean Sciences Division on the logistics associated with how proposals are handled through the review process at NSF.[3] During time at NASA, Bontempi facilitated the funding of ideas and projects proposed by scientists to NASA[4] including the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission[5] which will provide oceanographic and atmospheric data that allows scientists to investigate how the Earth is responding to a changing climate and as such is a key aspect of NASA science activities this decade. In preparation for the PACE mission, Bontempi presented the use of LIDAR from an airplane as a model for how data from the PACE mission would be handled.[6] Bontempi was the NASA program scientist[7] for the NASA- and National Science Foundation funded EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) program, a venture that involves multiple research cruises, over 100 scientists, and almost 30 research institutions.[8] In 2020, Bontempi became the dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.[9][10][11]

Bontempi was named a fellow of The Oceanography Society in 2019[12][13]

For her vision of what satellite-based ocean ecology could be, and tireless efforts to bring that vision to fruition in partnership with the community and space agencies

— The Oceanography Society

Bontempi participates in both national and international activities to advance understanding of the global carbon cycle. Bontempi was the co-chair of the US Carbon Cycle Interagency Working Group Science Program from 2008 to 2012, and concluded time at NASA as acting deputy director at NASA's Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. In 2020, Bontempi advocated for breaking down barriers between departments in the federal funding of earth science during a workshop hosted by the National Academy.[14][15]

Bontempi actively participates in educating the general public about climate change and science using multiple venues including interviews from popular magazines such as Marie Claire,[16] audio interviews with the StoryCorps project[17] and Audible,[18] and a TED talk in April 2021.[19] Bontempi spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a 2019 forum on climate change and maritime security[20] and has testified before the US House of Representatives on March 12, 2021 in a presentation to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.[21][22] Sophia Academy included Bontempi in their 2021 Women of Wisdom celebration when they take the time to "elevate, appreciate, and celebrate the Women of Wisdom".[23] In May 2020, Bontempi spoke with the Federal News Network about the 2020 NASA International Space Apps Challenge and the potential use of satellite imagery as a part of solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

Education edit

Bontempi received a B.S. in Biology from Boston College in 1992, an M.S. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University in 1995,[25] and a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island in 2001.[26][27]

Awards and recognition edit

  • Geosciences Distinguished Achievement Award, Texas A&M (2020)[28]
  • Fellow, The Oceanography Society (2019)[13]
  • Ocean Sciences Award from the American Geophysical Union (2019)[29]
  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2007), "...awarded to a Government employee for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions which contribute to NASA projects, programs, or initiatives."[30]

References edit

  1. ^ Bontempi, P; Yoder, J (May 2004). "Spatial variability in SeaWiFS imagery of the South Atlantic bight as evidenced by gradients (fronts) in chlorophyll a and water-leaving radiance". Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 51 (10–11): 1019–1032. doi:10.1016/S0967-0645(04)00098-0.
  2. ^ Judson, Abbie (8 October 2020). "URI Welcomes New Dean of GSO | The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  3. ^ Fine, Rana; Beardsley, Robert; Bontempi, Paula; Campbell, Janet; Chotiros, Nick; Klein, Emily; North, Elizabeth; Olsen, Curtis; Robles, Carlos; Seyfried, William; Thomas, Debbie (2010). "Committee of Visitors Advises NSF Division of Ocean Sciences". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 91 (8): 73–74. Bibcode:2010EOSTr..91...73F. doi:10.1029/2010EO080001. ISSN 2324-9250.
  4. ^ Bontempi, Paula (2014). "Paula S. Bontempi" (PDF). Oceanography. 27: 68.
  5. ^ Werdell, P. Jeremy; Behrenfeld, Michael J.; Bontempi, Paula S.; Boss, Emmanuel; Cairns, Brian; Davis, Gary T.; Franz, Bryan A.; Gliese, Ulrik B.; Gorman, Eric T.; Hasekamp, Otto; Knobelspiesse, Kirk D. (1 September 2019). "The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem Mission: Status, Science, Advances". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 100 (9): 1775–1794. Bibcode:2019BAMS..100.1775W. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0056.1. hdl:11603/17567. ISSN 0003-0007. S2CID 155968978.
  6. ^ Bontempi, Paula (2015). "Enhancing Earth Observation Networks from Space". Sea Technology. 56: 11–13. ProQuest 1654543872 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "Expedition Probes Ocean's Smallest Organisms for Climate Answers". Astrobiology Magazine. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  8. ^ "NSF, NASA scientists explore ocean's 'twilight zone' to uncover links between carbon and plankton". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ "URI appoints NASA scientist to lead Graduate School of Oceanography". Graduate School of Oceanography. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  10. ^ "University of Rhode Island hires NASA scientist as dean". AP NEWS. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ "URI hires NASA scientist as dean". ABC6. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  12. ^ "tos-fellows-meet | The Oceanography Society". tos.org. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Paula S. Bontempi selected as Fellow of The Oceanography Society". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  14. ^ Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (17 July 2020). Oskvig, Kelly; Staudt, Amanda (eds.). Earth System Predictability Research and Development: Proceedings of a Workshopâ€"in Brief. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/25861. ISBN 978-0-309-68023-3. S2CID 225595279.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Academies, The National (16 June 2020), 48 Day 2 Panel 6--Paula Bontempi.mov, retrieved 7 May 2021
  16. ^ Drell, Cady (16 April 2020). "Trump May Talk a Lot About Mars, But NASA Focuses Much of Its Energy on Earth". Marie Claire. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  17. ^ ""It's not just about the ocean, it's about the intersection of the ocean with other earth systems." an interview with Paula Bontempi". StoryCorps Archive. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  18. ^ Back to School: Spotlighting URI's Graduate School of Oceanography. Audible: an Amazon company. October 2020.
  19. ^ "TEDxURI | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Paula Bontempi | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  21. ^ "The Science Behind Impacts of the Climate Crisis | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology". science.house.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  22. ^ Cassandra Wilson. "An Alliance With Science: Turning The Tide On Climate Change". Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  23. ^ O'Rourke, Lil. "Dr. Paula Bontempi". Sophia Academy. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  24. ^ "NASA wants to hack its way against coronavirus". Federal News Network. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  25. ^ Bontempi, Paula Susan (1995). Phytoplankton distributions and species composition across the Texas-Louisiana continental shelf during two flow regimes of the Mississippi River (Thesis thesis). Texas A&M University.
  26. ^ "Paula S. Bontempi". Graduate School of Oceanography. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  27. ^ Bontempi, Paula Susan (1 January 2001). "Remote sensing of bio -optical water types, phytoplankton seasonality, and algal pigments in ocean margin waters". Dissertations and Master's Theses (Campus Access): 1–114. Bibcode:2001PhDT.......192B.
  28. ^ "Texas A&M Geosciences Announces 2020 Distinguished Achievement Awards". geonews.tamu.edu. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  29. ^ "2019 AGU Section Awardees and Named Lecturers". Eos. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  30. ^ "NASA medals" (PDF).
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