Our Motivation

My work is my purpose, my driving force. It's the reason I get up every day and do what I do. Most importantly, it keeps pushing me to achieve bigger and better things with each new challenge.

David Hastings, Eckerd College Professor, is a marine scientist and professor with more than 30 years of experience in oceanography, marine chemistry, and climate science. He has built a career across academic research, higher education, and public engagement focused on understanding ocean systems and environmental change. His work integrates chemistry with oceanography to examine climate-related processes in marine environments. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, cum laude, and later earned both a Master of Science and a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Washington, completing his doctorate in 1994 with recognition for his dissertation research.

Professor Hastings completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, cum laude, from Princeton University, where he received departmental honors. He continued graduate studies at the University of Washington, earning both a Master of Science and a PhD in Oceanography. During his doctoral research, he specialized in marine chemistry and environmental geochemistry, focusing on ocean processes and interactions with the climate system. He completed his PhD in 1994 and received the Sigma Xi Doctoral Dissertation Award, reflecting strong academic achievement in oceanographic research and environmental science.

Dr. Hastings began his professional career in environmental geochemistry at Battelle Columbus Laboratories, where he worked on applied scientific research. He later served at the University of Washington as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant from 1981 to 1985, contributing to both instruction and research in oceanography. He then worked as an Oceanographer III from 1987 to 1990, focusing on oceanographic data analysis and environmental systems. These roles provided practical experience in marine chemistry and climate-related research methods that supported his later academic development.

David Hastings, Eckerd College Professor, completed a postdoctoral appointment at the University of British Columbia from 1995 to 1999 as a Research Associate in Earth and Ocean Sciences. He later held visiting and research positions at Boston University from 2006 to 2007, contributing to interdisciplinary earth science work. In 2013, he served as a Scholar-in-Residence in Climate Solutions in Seattle, focusing on climate-related engagement. These appointments expanded his collaborative research experience in oceanography, climate science, and environmental systems across academic and applied contexts.

Dr. Hastings joined Eckerd College in 2000 and advanced from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and eventually Professor of Marine Science and Chemistry. He also served as department chair and participated in academic committees related to curriculum development, environmental affairs, and institutional assessment. His teaching and service supported marine science education and interdisciplinary programs linking chemistry, oceanography, and environmental studies. Over nearly two decades, he contributed to academic program development and student learning within the marine science discipline.

Professor Hastings conducts research in marine geochemistry, chemical oceanography, paleoceanography, and climate science, with additional focus on microplastics in marine environments. His work includes studies of ocean processes and environmental change, as well as applied research related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. His research combines fieldwork and laboratory analysis to understand better ocean chemistry and climate interactions across modern and historical systems.

David Hastings, Eckerd College Professor, has secured more than $1.5 million in research funding through approximately 30 grants supporting scientific and educational projects. He has received awards, including the Lloyd Chapin Award for Excellence in Scholarship in 2015, the Robert A. Staub Distinguished Teacher Award in 2012, recognition as a Science Champion by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2014, and the STEM Catalyst Collaborative Partnerships Award in 2013. His service includes advisory roles, convening an AGU session in 2013, more than 50 invited talks, including a keynote at the St. Petersburg March for Science, and a meeting with Florida Governor Rick Scott on climate issues. He participates in NSF- and NASA-supported mentoring for underrepresented students, serves in environmental organizations, including Sierra Club leadership, and remains active in outdoor activities in Florida.

Global Environmental Change Lecture Notes
The Gainesville Iguana