BATON ROUGE, La. (July 24, 2019) – On July 2, The White House announced that Patricia (Soupy) Dalyander was one of the recipients of this year’s Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). She will be accepting her award in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, July 25.
According to the announcement, “Established in 1996, the PECASE acknowledges the contributions scientists and engineers have made to the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and to community service as demonstrated by scientific leadership, public education, and community outreach. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy coordinates the PECASE with participating departments and agencies.”
The White House presents the awards based on recommendations from participating federal agencies. The Department of the Interior nominated Dalyander for research, outreach, and service while in her position with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, where Dalyander was a Research Oceanographer until starting with the Water Institute in May. Dalyander was nominated in part for her research and associated work in understanding and predicting the movement of residual oil as part of the Operational Science Advisory Team, commissioned by the Federal On Scene Coordinator of the U.S. Coast Guard following the Deepwater Horizon spill. A journal article about the work is available here and a Homeland Security article here.
“This is such a great honor, but it’s not mine alone. Science isn’t about an individual, it’s about working together and I’ve gotten the chance to work with and learn from the best,” Dalyander said.
Dalyander received her bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, a master’s degree in geological oceanography from Oregon State University, and a second master’s degree from University of Florida in mechanical engineering. Dalyander completed her Ph.D. from University of Florida in mechanical engineering with a focus in thermal science and fluid dynamics.
“I can’t think of anyone who deserves this award more,” said Mike Miner, Institute’s director of applied geosciences. “It’s so great that the value of Soupy’s scientific expertise, cleverness, and collaborative spirit has been recognized at the federal level.”
Dalyander’s professional experience in researching coastal processes and informing decisions in resource management includes working with the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program of the U.S. Geological Survey at both the St Petersburg and Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Centers. In addition, she worked on sediment management, water quality, and decision support projects as a research physical scientist for the Engineering Research and Development Center of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In her current position with the Water Institute, she is working on research and the development of science-based tools for informed management of Gulf of Mexico coastal systems, particularly barrier islands.