Florida Atlantic: New Era of Impact

The crystal-clear waters off South Florida are a window to vibrant underwater life, attracting visitors from around the world — yet a fragile frontier quickly comes into focus.

It's here in Florida Atlantic University's backyard, where the wild lands and waters meet sprawling metropolitan landscapes, creating distinct environmental pressures that present a different kind of attraction for Stephen Vollmer, Ph.D., a distinguished evolutionary and ecological genomicist.

Vollmer recently joined Florida Atlantic as the director for the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS). He has dedicated his career to researching the threats to tropical coral reefs, often viewed as a global barometer for understanding the far-reaching effects of widespread environmental shifts.

"My top priority is to grow FAU's School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability into a national leader in the environmental sciences by championing innovative research and educational programs across the university that focus on South Florida's unique ecosystems, environmental challenges and growing ocean economy," Vollmer said.

The school, a partnership between the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, is Florida Atlantic's comprehensive hub for environmental academic programs, research and outreach.

Vollmer arrived with ambitious plans to confront the escalating environmental issues faced both locally and around the world. His vision includes leveraging the robust resources of ECOS and rigorously preparing the next generation of scientists.

To realize these goals, Vollmer, who also will serve as a professor of biological sciences in the Schmidt College of Science, plans to deepen connections across ECOS's affiliate faculty members, researchers, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, leveraging the combined interdisciplinary expertise across Florida Atlantic.

"I aim to develop new initiatives that draw broadly from the ECOS community and amplify the impact of ECOS's centers across South Florida," Vollmer said.

A strong emphasis on the next generation of scientists and leaders is also high on Vollmer's list of actions for the school, which administers two master's programs, one in environmental science and the other in marine science and oceanography.

"I am excited to work with the directors of our academic programs to strengthen our master's degree tracks, and our many connected programs, as well as ensure our students are exceptionally well-prepared to enter the workforce," Vollmer said.

Recent gifts have allowed ECOS to expand its offerings, providing scholarships, enhanced student support, funding for research, stronger connections with external partners with paid internships, and various other forms of assistance.

"This support from donors and external partners is especially critical to ensure students get exposed to what it is to be a 'scientist' and launch their scientific careers," he said. "Hands-on exposure not only builds invaluable practical skills but also ignites passion and builds the professional networks essential to pursue enduring careers."

This robust preparation of future leaders is precisely what makes Florida Atlantic students highly sought after in the professional world — and it is a reputation Vollmer is keen to amplify.

"I want our FAU students to be known as the best-trained environmental scientists on the market, and one of the best ways to establish our reputation is through strong partner organizations who praise our students," Vollmer said. "For our researchers, I see these public-private partnerships as catalysts for commercializing scientific discoveries and driving innovation."

Vollmer's training and coral studies began at Harvard, where he performed his doctoral research. He was most recently a longstanding faculty member at Northeastern University in Boston, where he built rapidly expanding academic programs and recruited significant philanthropic gifts as the associate director of the Marine Science Center for Northeastern's College of Science.

One of the reasons Vollmer made the move to Florida Atlantic is the proximity to his research and South Florida's unique collection of interconnected marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, all converging into major metropolitan zones — a prime location that acts as a living laboratory for students and faculty.

"At FAU, I can do coral field work in the morning and be back at the lab doing cutting-edge microbiology and genomics in the afternoon," he said. "I have seen a sharp decline in our tropical coral reefs, principally due to coral disease outbreaks and thermal bleaching. This inspired me to seek practical solutions to the environmental challenges facing us today."

Confronting South Florida's immense environmental stressors requires a multidisciplinary approach, and Vollmer intends to position Florida Atlantic at the forefront of these efforts.

"To protect the unique natural resources of South Florida while sustaining our vibrant communities and economy, we need to work across our traditional academic silos," Vollmer said. "FAU and ECOS are poised to become the leaders tackling complex environmental issues and providing society with sustainable environmental solutions."