Bill Sargent
Bill Sargent, Researcher
Department
Center for Spatial Analysis
Location
St. Petersburg
|
 |
Degrees / Certifications
M.S. Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, 1985
B.A. Biology /Chemistry / Marine Science, Jacksonville University, 1981
Education / Experience
Research Scientist, FWC-FWRI, 2000 - Present
Associate Research Scientist, FWC-FWRI, 1991- 2000
Environmental Specialist, St. Johns River Water Management District, 1989 -1991
Biological Scientist, Florida Department of Natural Resources- FMRI, 1984 - 1989
Biological Scientist, University of Florida, 1981 - 1984
Engineering Aide, EBASCO Services, 1978 – 1981
Recent Projects / Interview Body
What are you working on now?
We are working on methods to characterize boating in the state of Florida. We really need to know our customer base and boaters are our customers. There are over one million recreational boats registered in the state of Florida. Access to the waterways, safety of boaters, and protection of natural resources are becoming more complicated to manage. Traditionally, ecosystem management has focused mainly on natural resources so we don’t have a lot of information on how people use the environment. We are trying to pull that information together by learning how people are enjoying the environment through boating. In the process we can learn how to promote sustainable use of our waterways.
How is this information beneficial?
We will now have science-based documentation of the traditional activities, needs, wants and desires of recreational boaters using Florida waterways. This information also identifies the specific locations where the numerous types of boating-based activities take place. This information is needed by the various agencies and community work groups addressing issues such as boating access, waterway safety, and resource conservation. The activities and needs of the boaters can now be better involved into the planning processes. Florida’s tremendous population growth is placing extreme pressures on our waterways. Without placing undue restriction on boaters; we need to balance the use of the waterways with public safety and resource protection.
Was this your original career interest? Why or why not?
I guess I was a lot more interested in the critters and the environment they inhabited. My career just kind of grew from that. My background and interests are very broad as far as marine science and the environment. So that encompasses a lot. This boating aspect grew out of that. People are part of the environment also. You can’t study about the environment or know about the environment without knowing how people interact with the environment.
I’ve been here with the agency for a little over 20 years now. My career here first began by going from specific studies on the coastal environment to mapping of habitats of the coastal environment to geographic assessments of habitats. And from that it kind of grew into, well, “Can we map boating?” So I gave that a try and found out, yeah, we can.
What is your biggest accomplishment?
It’s a trail of small accomplishments that gives me some satisfaction. Maybe the development of our oil spill response, a Geographic Information System (GIS) application. That was the first time I had ever been involved with GIS. It was also at the beginning stages of GIS being incorporated into natural resources management. A lot of us were learning at the same time. It was kind of neat, once we got that done after a couple of years, to sit back and say, “Wow, we actually got something concrete fixed and in place that no one has done before.”
The GIS oil spill response was to take strategies and contingency plans already in place and to develop a GIS data base - more importantly a GIS application - to help put those strategies in place once an accident occurs where oil or other hazardous materials are released into the environment.
What do you like most about your career?
What I like most about it is also what is one of the most frustrating things. And that is you don’t know what is going to happen when you walk through the door. You can think you have your day planned out and what you will have accomplished by the end of the day and by the first hour it’s all changing because some new issue has come in the door or you are helping someone else with something. Helping others solve a unique problem is fun.
You are never bored and yet there is always something different happening.
What do you least like about your career?
The unpredictability of it all.
What are some of your biggest challenges?
I guess one of the hardest things, or things that take an inordinate amount of time that you wouldn’t expect, is trying to correct misinformation so that everyone can get on the same page. When you work with a lot of people, and there is no ill will, but often times there is confusion and misinformation surrounding an issue. You have to get everybody to jive together, get rid of the rumors and get all the facts out there on the table.
What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in your field?
Find a mentor out there in the academic field or the volunteer field. There are a lot of volunteer organizations out there where you can get your feet wet.
Aside from science, probably the most important set of skills needed are in the realm of communication, writing and reading, speaking and listening. You have to be able to communicate your ideas in a skillful manner and you have to be able to learn from others. Knowledge is most valuable when it is shared.
