Stony Brook University named Dr. David Conover to the position of Dean and Director of its Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC). Dr. Conover has been at Stony Brook since 1981 and is widely recognized for his research in the ecology and evolutionary biology of fishes and fisheries science. He has 20 years of experience in the administration of interdisciplinary research programs, and has served a term as Associate Dean for Research at the Center.
Dr. Conover has authored or co-authored about 75 publications. Last summer his research indicating that fishery management plans should incorporate the potential for evolutionary change in harvestable biomass was published in Science, and attracted considerable international media attention. The findings showed that the common harvesting practice of throwing back the smaller fish into the ocean alters the gene pool, thereby forcing the fish population to downsize. His current sponsored research support comes primarily from the NSF Ocean Sciences Division, and he leads a research group of about ten.
�I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead one of the world�s top marine and atmospheric sciences program in its quest for excellence in public service, teaching and research,� said Dr. Conover. �I am especially interested in focusing the expertise of MSRC on solving the many problems that affect the vitality of New York�s marine resources, and in providing our students the opportunity to learn about the marine environment.�
�Professor Conover was selected after an international search and is lauded by the search committee as being articulate, organized, energetic, persistent and extremely focused,� said Robert L. McGrath, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in his
announcement of the appointment. �While continuing to build the national and international stature of the MSRC in marine and atmospheric sciences, he plans to enhance the Center’s position as the regional resource for a wide range of environmental issues. He has already begun to assume the duties of this new position and I am delighted to welcome him to this new post.�
Dr. Conover received his PhD in 1982 from the University of Massachusetts.
The previous dean and director of MSRC was Dr. Marvin Geller. During his five year term, the Center has had several important accomplishments including creation of a marine animal pathology laboratory in partnership with Cornell, acquisition of a well-equipped marine research vessel, and the recruiting of several faculty.
The Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC) is the center for marine research, education, and public service in the marine sciences for the State University of New York system. In addition, MSRC is Stony Brook University�s center for research, education, and public service in the atmospheric sciences. MSRC is a coastal oceanographic and atmospheric institution. The expertise of MSRC’s faculty places them in the forefront in addressing and answering questions about regional environmental problems, as well as problems relating to the global ocean and atmosphere. The primary focus of the MSRC faculty is on fundamental research designed to increase understanding of the processes that characterize the coastal ocean and the atmosphere. The Marine Sciences Research Center is also committed to applying the results of research to solve problems arising from society’s uses and misuses of the environment. The Center includes institutes in several major areas: the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres, the Living Marine Resources Institute, the Long Island Groundwater Resource Institute, and the Waste Reduction and Management Institute. These institutes add a wealth of varied resources to education and research.
Established in 1957, Stony Brook University is one of the leading public research institutions in the nation. Its renowned graduate and undergraduate programs include the humanities, arts and sciences, and engineering and applied sciences. Internationally known faculty members teach courses in more than 100 programs to 22,000 students. Stony Brook’s Health Sciences Center trains undergraduate and graduate students for careers in healthcare and Stony Brook University Hospital is the tertiary care facility for Suffolk County’s 1.7 million residents. Last year, Stony Brook University expanded into New York City with a new state-of-the-art Manhattan facility.
Stony Brook University is a NCAA Division I school and a member of the invitation-only organization of top research universities, the Association of American Universities (AAU).
