Dr. Karl E. Havens

Karl Havens is Director of Florida Sea Grant (FSG). He provides leadership for strategic planning, program implementation, formation of strategic partnerships and investment of program resources. He is responsible for the objectivity, scientific rigor, responsiveness and impact of the FSG Program. He has over 20 years of professional experience in aquatic research, education and outreach, and has worked with Florida aquatic ecosystems and the use of objective science in their management for the past 15 years. His area of research specialty is plankton ecology, and he is particularly interested in how natural and human- related stressors impact the structure and function of plankton and other components of shallow aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Havens has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles in his area of expertise, several book chapters, a number of invited review papers and an edited book. Prior to assuming the role of Director for FSG, Dr. Havens was Chair of the University of Florida Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and earlier in his career he was Chief Scientist at the South Florida Water Management District, conducting applied research related to Everglades regional restoration.