Dr. Jennifer Shafer and Dr. David Shafer of Shafer Consulting were appointed the new Executive Directors of the Science and Environment Council (SEC) of Sarasota County. The SEC was incorporated in 2001 as a collaboration of non-profit and government agencies with environmental missions.  SEC’s mission is to promote and advocate science, conservation and environmental issues in Sarasota County for maintaining and improving quality of life through education, public outreach, demonstration, information gathering and analysis, and special projects.

Institutional members include the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Crowley Museum and Nature Center, Florida House, Friends of Myakka River, Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park, G.WIZ, Historic Spanish Point, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Myakka River State Park, Mote Marine Laboratory, New College of Florida, Oscar Scherer State Park, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, and Sarasota County Government. SEC also has seven local affiliate members.

“We look forward to carrying on the productive tradition of education and policy initiatives by the SEC, while expanding collaborative research opportunities among members to advance our scientific understanding of our environment and its conservation” David said in a statement.