Kim Yates, Ph.D.

Dr. Kimberly Yates is a Research Oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. She has been studying ocean acidification for more than 20 years. Kim specializes in carbonate geochemistry and biogeochemistry. She’s a member of the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification, Chair of the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Acidification Network, and a member of the Southeast Ocean and Coastal Acidification Network. When asked why she studies the ocean, Kim states, “I can’t remember ever considering any career other than science. My parents taught me an appreciation of nature and conservation through a very active life of outdoor recreation, especially on the water. I developed an insatiable curiosity about how nature works, and my favorite place was anywhere on or near the ocean. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to pursue a college degree in biology, chemistry, or physics. I discovered that by choosing a career in the earth sciences, I could have a career in all three.”