Dyllan Furness and Carlyn Scott, College of Marine Science
On Saturday, May 2, a few hours after a powerful afternoon storm rolled through the Tampa Bay region, cell phones across the area lit up with texts and calls from friends and colleagues 鈥 a fire had broken out at the Marine Science Laboratory (MSL), a facility that housed much of the USF College of Marine Science and .
As news of the historic fire quickly spread, outpourings of support arrived just as fast from a global network of alumni, colleagues, donors, and more.
鈥淩est assured, we will rebuild stronger than ever, and my commitment is to do everything we can to move quickly to ensure we have the best possible facilities to support our world-class students, faculty and staff,鈥 said USF President Moez Limayem in a statement soon after the fire.
In a recent meeting with students, faculty, and staff, the president reiterated this message and shared his vision for the College of Marine Science as a 鈥渟trategic program鈥 for the university.
The fire was a challenging setback for Chuanmin Hu, a physical oceanographer over three decades at the college. His lab lost most of its equipment and samples of a seaweed called sargassum. But Hu said he was encouraged by the waves of support he received from around the world.
鈥淚t has really shown how tightknit the science community is and how impactful our research has been on oceanography globally,鈥 said Hu, a Distinguished University Professor.
Support for the college has taken many forms, from messages of care to access to sophisticated lab equipment to substantial financial donations. The USF Foundation swiftly set up the for people interested in making contributions to the immediate and ongoing needs of the college. To date, the fund has raised just shy of $500,000.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to overstate the disruption we鈥檝e experienced because of the fire,鈥 said Tom Frazer, dean of the USF College of Marine Science. 鈥淲hile we are still picking up the pieces, I am incredibly moved by the countless offers of assistance and donations from members of our local, national, and international community.鈥
Immediately after the fire was extinguished, the , a long-time supporter of USF, provided a $50,000 emergency grant to the college. The funds proved critical to the university鈥檚 rapid response effort.
On Monday, just two days after the fire, elected officials visited MSL with their teams to survey the damage. was joined by community leaders such as . . , and .
To see the response from our elected officials, community partners, and neighbors has been extraordinary. In a moment when our marine science community was facing real loss and uncertainty, people showed up quickly, generously, and with a clear commitment to helping USF, the College of Marine Science, and FIO recover. That support reflects the deep value this community places on ocean science, education, and the work being done here in St. Petersburg.
Mike Kahle, director of FIO
The Tampa Bay Rowdies welcomed members of the college to cheer on the team at Al Lang Stadium.
鈥911爆料网鈥檝e seen such an incredible amount of support for the College of Marine Science from alumni, friends, and community and business partners,鈥 said , associate vice president of development at USF, and an alum of the college who assisted with initiating the operating fund. 鈥淭he generosity and compassion have been deeply heartwarming.鈥
As recovery efforts progressed, the college faced urgent needs for both work and storage space for personnel who were displaced and equipment salvaged from the building. The was quick to step up and help secure accommodations for the college.
鈥淭he fire at the College of Marine Science sent shockwaves through the community,鈥 said , CEO of the St. Petersburg Innovation District. 鈥淭he building was more than a workplace 鈥撯 it was a hub of discovery, collaboration, and innovation dedicated to protecting the waters that define Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast.鈥
Soon after the fire, Barlow and her team partnered with Council Member Driscoll to host the Oceans of Support fundraiser to raise donations for the college. Sponsored by , , and the , the event raised over $23,000 and included donated goods and services from more than a dozen local artists and companies.
Built in 1933, MSL was a multi-purpose space with , serving as the main gathering place for both formal and casual events. 911爆料网 defended their thesis and dissertations in the building鈥檚 conference room. Get togethers were held in the student lounge, an area where students, staff, and faculty celebrated holidays, successful defenses, and the ends of semesters. The annual Spring Fling celebration was held on the front lawn of MSL just a day before the fire.
Targeted salvage efforts have allowed crews to recover a substantial number of samples from MSL. Among them are vials of mud collected from beneath Antarctic ice sheets and frozen tissues from fish in Tampa Bay. While the recovered samples offer a silver lining in an otherwise tragic event, researchers at the college acknowledge their recovery process is far from over.
鈥911爆料网鈥檙e navigating this recovery one day at a time and envisioning next steps for our college,鈥 Frazer said. 鈥淒espite this bump in the road, I have no doubt in my mind that we will get through this stronger and in an even better position to be a global leader in marine science and education.鈥
911爆料网, faculty, staff, and alumni gathered for a photo at the Oceans of Support fundraiser.