Silvia Newell

Dr. Silvia Newell is the Director of Michigan Sea Grant and a Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. She is a nutrient biogeochemist and microbial ecologist with experience working on Great Lakes issues. She researches the effects of excess nutrients from fertilizer and wastewater on inland and coastal waters, with a focus on harmful algal blooms in large likes like Lake Erie. She is currently funded through NSF Chemical Oceanography to study nitrogen dynamics in the Great Lakes, NSF DISES to work on nitrogen dynamics influencing nutrient loading to Lake Erie, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to look at nutrient processing in constructed wetlands, NSF Chemical Oceanography to look at connections between nitrogen and mercury cycling in Antarctic coastal water, and the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission to look at ecosystem impacts on fish recruitment. Silvia also has experience engaging stakeholders to develop realistic pathways for nutrient reduction. Additionally, she serves on the board for a number of organizations (including the Earth Science Women’s Network, the Great Lakes Commission HABs Collaborative, the Saginaw Bay Monitoring Consortium Advisory Committee, the Science Advisory Panel for the Michigan Domestic Action Plan for Nutrient Reduction to Lake Erie), and is a past President of the Lake Erie Area Research Network. 

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