This year’s individual awardee is Jack A. Kaye, who holds a doctorate in chemistry, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions in shaping, championing, and sustaining multidisciplinary Earth science to improve understanding of Earth as an integrated system.

The 2024 Pecora group award is awarded to the Optical Oceanography Lab of the University of South Florida for groundbreaking advancements in remote sensing technology to improve the understanding of changing aquatic ecosystems, and strong commitment to translating findings into tangible benefits for society. 

Recipient of the Pecora Individual Award:  Jack A. Kaye, PhD

During his extensive and distinguished career, Kaye has been a visionary and creative leader in multidisciplinary Earth science research, spurring advancements in the investigator community, supporting development of sensors, and shaping NASA satellite and aircraft missions and research programs at the highest levels. 

In exemplary service to the scientific community, Kaye has been part of national and international groups for decades, serving as the NASA principal on the Subcommittee on Global Change Research in the U.S. Global Change Research Program and chairing the World Meteorological Organization Expert Team on Satellite Systems. Kaye served as a member of the Steering Committee for the Global Climate Observing System and on the National Research Council’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability and the Chemical Sciences Roundtable. He has also devoted considerable energy towards developing early career researchers, stimulating the inclusion of a more diverse student population in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

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Recipients of the Pecora Group Award:  The Optical Oceanography Laboratory of the University of South Florida 

The Optical Oceanography Lab (OOL) has been at the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in remote sensing technology, education, and community service. Under the leadership of Dr. Chuanmin Hu, the OOL has pioneered innovative remote sensing methodologies to investigate phenomena such as algal blooms, oil spills, and coastal ecosystem dynamics, and effectively translated this research into meaningful applications that support decision makers, mitigate disasters, educate future professionals, and provide services to the public. 

Perhaps their most significant contribution to science and the public was the discovery of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, extensive mats of brown seaweed that extends from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico that has had significant, detrimental impacts on coastal ecosystems and communities across the Tropical Atlantic. The Sargassum Belt, which annually impacts over 30 countries, made the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest macroalgal bloom; and this effort was selected by the Discover magazine as one of the top 50 discoveries in 2019. But the OOL didn’t stop there – they turned their discovery into applications to serve the public, developing the open access Sargassum Watch System which provides updated satellite images with monthly bulletins distributed to user groups on an interactive platform so that interested parties can specifically select a region of interest to track Sargassum in support of mitigation efforts.

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You may find additional information about the honorees, including their citations, and the Pecora Awards nomination process at usgs.gov/pecora.   

About the Pecora Awards

Presented annually since 1974 the award was established to recognize outstanding individuals or teams working toward understanding the Earth (land, oceans and air), educating the next generation of scientists, informing decision makers or supporting natural or human-induced disaster response. 

The award honors the memory of William T. Pecora, former Director of USGS and Under Secretary of the Interior. His early vision and support helped establish what we know today as the Landsat satellite program.