Professor Maya Trotz, PhD
USF Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Maya Trotz, PhD, has been named a 2023 NSF-KADF Ocean Decade Champion for her environmental research. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Kaleta A.Doolin Foundation (KADF) have joined together to empower 31 women scientists associated with the NSF Coastlines and People program.
According to the NSF press release, "These women are leaders at the frontiers of research and innovation in ocean and coastal science. Their work with CoPe, an endorsed Ocean Decade Action, focuses on critically important coastline and community research that integrates natural, social, and technological processes toward a mission of coastal resilience."
Professor Trotz is being recognized for her research on critical facets of water quality, water source protection and water provision for sustainable communities. She focuses her work through a lens on the intersection of infrastructure for education and engineering systems and works with partners in the U.S. and the Caribbean on ridge-to-reef nature-based solutions.
With the Ocean Decades Champion funding, Professor Trotz and her fellow awardees are extending their efforts far beyond their academic interests to advance our ability to thrive in a changing coastal environment and to engage with and solve the problems of underserved communities in these areas.
According to the NSF press release, " The Ocean Decade Champions receiving funding through this program will be active participants in the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), which aims to support endeavors to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and create improved conditions for sustainable development of oceans and coasts. Advocating for fair representation of women as both scientists and decision-makers is essential to help unlock opportunities and foster a much-needed transformation in ocean research. These women Ocean Decade Champions demonstrate their excellence in research, impact on society, and helping others excel in the ocean science enterprise. "
View the profiles of each NSF-KADF Ocean Decade Champion.