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<p><b><span>From:</span></b><span> McRae, Gil <Gil.McRae@MyFWC.com>
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<b>Sent:</b> Monday, June 12, 2023 11:36 AM<br clear="none">
<b>To:</b> _fwc all users <_<a shape="rect" href="mailto:fwcallusers@myfwc.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank">fwcallusers@myfwc.com</a>><br clear="none">
<b>Subject:</b> A Great Loss and a Great Legacy<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p>It is with deep and profound sadness that I report the passing of former Florida Marine Research Institute Director and Senior Research Scientist Dr. Karen Steidinger. Karen passed away peacefully over the weekend comforted by her partner
of more than 30 years, former FWC Research Scientist Dr. Jan Landsberg. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>For those of us that knew and worked with Karen, her passing leaves a void that cannot be filled but we can take a small measure of solace in celebrating her tremendous legacy.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>When Karen began her career in the early 1960’s the playing field was far from level for women scientists, in fact, it was unclear if there was a playing field at all. Through her hard work, perseverance, and innate ability to adapt to
the needs of the day, Karen not only leveled the playing field but changed the rules of the game. She was a pioneer in the field of harmful algal bloom research, particularly related to the Florida red tide (<i>Karenia brevis</i>) which was named in her honor
in 2001. She was an inspiration and mentor to countless colleagues, especially women, over her more than 60-year career and her evolution from a groundbreaking woman scientist to a world class researcher who happened to be a woman speaks volumes about her
legacy.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>Her enthusiasm and humor were infectious and her collaborative approach to science and rigorous attention to detail formed a solid foundation on which we continue to build to this day. Karen helped establish the first state sponsored marine
laboratory in Florida, setting the stage for the latter incorporation of research as a core function of FWC in the Florida Constitution and providing an example for public service science we strive to achieve in our work at the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>I see and feel Karen all around me. I have the honor of occupy an office she used to work in within the FWRI St. Petersburg Headquarters that she made a reality. I see her in every scientific program where a focus on relevant, objective,
high quality science allows us to serve the public in a manner that honors her legacy. Most of all, I see and feel Karen in the eyes and hearts of a large group of fantastic women scientists I have the great privilege of working with on a daily basis. Free
from the tedious dissipation of energy that comes from just proving that you belong, these scientists continue to change the rules of the game.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>Please take a quiet moment today to appreciate Karen’s legacy and voluminous contributions to science and society. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>We will share more information on memorials and events in Karen’s honor as we get them.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span>Gil McRae, Director<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span>FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span>Office: 727-896-8626<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span>Cell: 727-423-3181<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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</blockquote></div></div><span>-- </span><br clear="none"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">"In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find<br clear="none">themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."<br clear="none">Eric Hoffer<br clear="none"></div></div>
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