Dr. Lisa Krimsky (center) offered the 2025 Don Sweat Award by Dr. Sherry Larkin (left) and Dr. Maia McGuire (proper).
Dr. Lisa Krimsky, Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS Regional Water Assets Extension Agent (RSA) has been offered the celebrated 2025 Don Sweat Sea Grant Extension Award. Dr. Krimsky’s work focuses on offering sources that encourage habits change to scale back non-point sources of air pollution and inspiring science-based suggestions to mitigate the general public well being, financial, and environmental impacts of dangerous algal blooms.
The award was created to honor the retirement of the late Don Sweat, a trailblazer in Florida Sea Grant’s early Marine Extension programming. This accolade is offered yearly upon a Florida Sea Grant agent who embodies the motto “Science Serving Florida’s Coast.” The recipient is acknowledged for displaying initiative, innovation, creativity, and management of their extension programming.
“My works embrace facilitating relationships between academia and authorities to make sure that administration methods take into account one of the best accessible science and that the analysis being performed and the instruments being developed meet the wants of these liable for managing our pure sources,” says Dr. Krimsky. “I’m extraordinarily honored to have acquired the Don Sweat Award. I’m continually in awe of the innovation, affect, and impression of my Sea Grant colleagues. Being acknowledged by them for my very own work is extraordinarily humbling.”
Dr. Krimsky is a part of a group of 5 Water Useful resource Regional Specialised Brokers positioned throughout the state to steer and assist water useful resource extension teaching programs. Her efforts are centered primarily in southeast Florida, overlaying 12 counties from Brevard County by means of Monroe County. These areas comprise essential coastal areas together with the Indian River Lagoon, the Lake Value Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, and Lake Okeechobee – the state’s largest freshwater lake.
Dr. Krimsky facilitating viewers exercise on the 2023 Blue-Inexperienced Algae State of the Science Symposium.
“Her work on HABs is especially essential for the counties I serve, as HABs and water administration points associated to Lake Okeechobee are among the many chief issues of Treasure Coast residents,” says Dr. Vincent Encomio, Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS Extension Agent for Martin and St. Lucie Counties.
Regardless of the frequency of those dangerous algal bloom occasions and the quantity of publicly accessible data, there persists a spot in information concerning the organism itself, administration actions, and the true and perceived well being dangers to Florida’s residents and vacationers. Recognizing the significance of a statewide communication technique to advertise higher decision-making throughout pink tide occasions, Dr. Krimsky, has labored with NOAA HAB Liaison, Betty Staugler, to prepare and facilitate three State of the Science Symposiums, overlaying Karenia brevis and Microcystis spp, cyanobacterial blooms, and pink tide.
Dr. Krimsky additionally has produced a number of communications merchandise together with a 2024 revealed article within the Particular Version of Oceanography Journal selling collaboration amongst HAB stakeholders; a complete communication plan for residents, guests, and companies on HAB occurrences; and a Composite Crimson Tide Vulnerability Index (CRTVI), which assesses and communicates the socio-economic vulnerability of coastal communities to pink tide in Florida.
Past her recognition as Florida Sea Grant’s “HAB’s professional”, Dr. Krimsky’s energetic, enthusiastic and collaborative spirit nurtures the success of her Florida Sea Grant colleagues and friends.
