Former dean and pioneer of USF’s College of Marine Science, Dr. Peter Betzer, was honored with the esteemed title of “Mr. Sun” last month.
Behind the decision, the selection committee cited Betzer’s unwavering dedication to science education for Pinellas youth, and his efforts that helped St. Petersburg become a renowned name in marine science and oceanography.
The committee comprises previous Mr. and Ms. Suns who evaluate and discuss recommendations, and then vote on who will carry on the 61-year old Pinellas tradition and become the new face of the Sunshine City.
“I don’t know who nominated me,” said Betzer. “It’s not a self-nomination. For me it was a complete surprise.”
St. Petersburg is home to the only college of marine science in the USF system, and Dr. Betzer helped make it the most respected program of its kind in the Southeastern U.S.
“Although the college of marine science is administered in Tampa, it is located in St. Petersburg and we have always felt like we are a part of St. Petersburg,” said Betzer. “When I was a faculty member at USF, and not on an oceanographic research mission, I spent almost 100 percent of my time in St. Pete.”
The St. Petersburg community and its legislators joined with Betzer to help transform a modest marine science program into a major marine science complex. The USF College of Marine Science has also attracted outside investments from both the private sector and federal government to St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is now home to the largest Marine Science research facility in the Southeastern U.S.
“I don’t think there’s any question that we rank ahead of everybody (in Florida),” said Betzer. “Part of the reason for that are the many productive partnerships that exist. Between the U.S. Geological Survey, National Marine Fisheries laboratory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and SRI International…nobody else has all that—including the University of Miami!”
One of Betzer’s proudest achievements was his work with two teachers that resulted in the creation of the Oceanography Camp for Girls in 1991.
“Before 1991, the graduate student body from the College of Marine Science was dominated by men,” said Betzer. “Two-thirds of the people in our program were men. Of course there’s no shortage of bright women, yet we had a very small participation of women in science.”
As an educator, scientist and proud father of two daughters, Betzer saw that as a problem. So, he established a program for eighth-grade girls to help foster their intellectual curiosity for science.
“Since 1991, there has been a three-week program called the Oceanography Camp for Girls that the USF College of Marine Science runs,” said Betzer. “It connects 33 young women from Pinellas County with graduate students in marine science.”
For the last 24 years, the program has been a success. Students who attend the camp are tracked throughout the rest of their educational careers, and many end up taking more science courses in high school and college. The program has also produced a number of Ph.D. scientists.
Betzer was instrumental in establishing an endowment for that program, which would have otherwise been terminated due to lack of funding.
“I would say it’s one of the most important things I ever did in my career,” said Betzer. “This program became so well known that I even had phone calls when I was the dean from people who lived in England begging me to have their child in the program.”
Betzer also helped build a program to increase the enrollment of minority students in the College of Marine Science, which in the last decade has graduated more African-American Ph.D.s than any other institution of marine science or oceanography in the U.S.
“Many people told me, that you can’t change the culture, and that African-Americans specifically were just not interested in marine science,” said Betzer. “So I said, I’m a scientist, and until we experiment and get the data, I’m not willing to make a judgment. How can you know if you don’t try?”
It turns out that they did not fail. USF’s college of marine science is now recognized in the oceanographic world and by the Sloan Foundation for the transformation that is attracting and developing minority scientists.
Betzer retired from USF in 2008, but he hasn’t taken a break from his endeavors in the education of aspiring young scientists in Pinellas County.
“We’re currently working on creating a marine discovery center in the heart of St. Petersburg,” said Betzer. “We’re also working to expand St. Petersburg’s marine science complex.”
Most recently, Betzer helped bring the Blue Ocean Film Festival to St. Petersburg, placing the city among the likes of other world-class film festival destinations like Monaco.
“St. Petersburg has become the permanent home for the Blue Ocean Film Festival,” said Betzer. “That’s an incredible thing. That’s a major crown and I worked very hard on that.”
Mr. Sun is not just a title, but also a responsibility.
“The responsibility is to show off St. Petersburg at its best,” said Betzer. “That’s one thing that I’ve always tried to do. I’m very proud of the city and all of the wonderful things it has and the reasons people ought to visit.”
