Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D.
Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D.
Your full-time Miami Waterkeeper is part investigator, scientist, educator, and legal advocate, functioning as a public spokesperson for our Bay, protecting your right to clean water and empowering you to defend your waterways too!
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Miami Waterkeeper and Executive Director

Rachel Silverstein joined Miami Waterkeeper as Executive Director & Waterkeeper in June of 2014. Prior to joining MWK, Rachel was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow and Professional Staff for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard in Washington, DC. She got SCUBA certified at 14 and has been a diver ever since.

Rachel received a Ph.D. in the Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science in 2012. Her research focused on the effect of climate change on reef corals, funding in part by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, for which she used genetic methods to answer ecological questions. Rachel graduated cum laude in 2006 from Columbia University with a B.S. degree in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.

 

Awards and Honors

Miami Herald Visionary Award (2016)

Named top 20 environmentalists in South Florida by New Times (2016)

Reitmeister-Abess Center Environmental Stewardship Award (2016)

Diatom Award for Environmental and Civic Activism presented by Mayor Philip Levine of Miami Beach (2015)

 

Check out Rachel's Media at www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/press

 

Scientific Publications

Cunning, R., Silverstein, R. N., Barnes, B. B., & Baker, A. C. (2019). Extensive coral mortality and critical habitat loss following dredging and their association with remotely-sensed sediment plumes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 145, 185–199.

Cunning, R., Silverstein, R.N. & Baker, A.C. Coral Reefs (2018) 37: 145. ** Winner: Best paper of the year in the Journal Coral Reefs**

Silverstein R, Cunning R, Baker AC (2017) Tenacious D: Symbiodinium in clade D remain in reef corals at both high and     low temperature extremes despite impairment. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Barnes BB, Hu C, Kovach C, Silverstein R (2015) Sediment plumes induced by the Port of Miami dredging: Analysis and    interpretation using Landsat and MODIS data. Remote Sensing of the Environment

Cunning R, Silverstein R, Baker AC (2015) Investigating the causes and consequences of symbiont shuffling in a multi-       partner coral symbiosis under environmental change. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biology

Pelc R, … Silverstein R (2015) Further action on bycatch could boost U.S. fisheries performance. Marine Policy 56:56-60.

Silverstein R, Cunning R, Baker AC (2014) Change in algal symbiont communities after bleaching, not prior heat exposure, increases heat tolerance of reef corals. Global Change Biology DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12706.

Silverstein R, Correa AMS, Baker AC (2012) Specificity is rarely absolute in coral-algal symbiosis: Implications for coral    response to climate change.  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biology 279(1738):2609-18.

Silverstein R (2010) Bracing for oil.  Science 239: 388.

Silverstein R, Correa AMS, LaJeunesse TC, Baker AC (2011) Novel algal symbiont (Symbiodinium spp.) diversity in reef    corals of Western Australia.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 422:63-75.

Kenkel C,… Silverstein R, et al. Development of gene expression markers of acute heat-light stress in reef-building corals    of the genus Porites. PLoS One 6: e26914

 

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Appointed by Commissioner Ken Russell to the City of Miami Sea Level Rise Advisory Board (2016-2017)

Appointed by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to the Miami Dade County Biscayne Bay Shoreline Development Review Committee (2016-ongoing)

Miami Fellow with the Miami Foundation (2016-2017)

New Leaders Council Institute (2016)

 

 

HomeMiami Waterkeeper is a South Florida Environmental Group that advocates for Swimmable, Drinkable, Fishable water for all. Working on sea rise, water pollution, coral reef protection, and water issue education.
Miami Waterkeeper and Executive Director
Rachel Silverstein joined Miami Waterkeeper as Executive Director & Waterkeeper in June of 2014. Prior to joining MWK, Rachel was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow and Professional Staff for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard in Washington, DC. She got SCUBA certified at 14 and has been a diver ever since. Rachel received a Ph.D. in the Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science in 2012. Her research focused on the effect of climate change on reef corals, funding in part by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, for which she used genetic methods to answer ecological questions. Rachel graduated cum laude in 2006 from Columbia University with a B.S. degree in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.   Awards and Honors Miami Herald Visionary Award (2016) Named top 20 environmentalists in South Florida by New Times (2016) Reitmeister-Abess Center Environmental Stewardship Award (2016) Diatom Award for Environmental and Civic Activism presented by Mayor Philip Levine of Miami Beach (2015)   Check out Rachel's Media at www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/press   Scientific Publications Cunning, R., Silverstein, R. N., Barnes, B. B., & Baker, A. C. (2019). Extensive coral mortality and critical habitat loss following dredging and their association with remotely-sensed sediment plumes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 145, 185–199. Cunning, R., Silverstein, R.N. & Baker, A.C. Coral Reefs (2018) 37: 145. ** Winner: Best paper of the year in the Journal Coral Reefs** Silverstein R, Cunning R, Baker AC (2017) Tenacious D: Symbiodinium in clade D remain in reef corals at both high and     low temperature extremes despite impairment. Journal of Experimental Biology. Barnes BB, Hu C, Kovach C, Silverstein R (2015) Sediment plumes induced by the Port of Miami dredging: Analysis and    interpretation using Landsat and MODIS data. Remote Sensing of the Environment Cunning R, Silverstein R, Baker AC (2015) Investigating the causes and consequences of symbiont shuffling in a multi-       partner coral symbiosis under environmental change. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biology Pelc R, … Silverstein R (2015) Further action on bycatch could boost U.S. fisheries performance. Marine Policy 56:56-60. Silverstein R, Cunning R, Baker AC (2014) Change in algal symbiont communities after bleaching, not prior heat exposure, increases heat tolerance of reef corals. Global Change Biology DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12706. Silverstein R, Correa AMS, Baker AC (2012) Specificity is rarely absolute in coral-algal symbiosis: Implications for coral    response to climate change.  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biology 279(1738):2609-18. Silverstein R (2010) Bracing for oil.  Science 239: 388. Silverstein R, Correa AMS, LaJeunesse TC, Baker AC (2011) Novel algal symbiont (Symbiodinium spp.) diversity in reef    corals of Western Australia.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 422:63-75. Kenkel C,… Silverstein R, et al. Development of gene expression markers of acute heat-light stress in reef-building corals    of the genus Porites. PLoS One 6: e26914   CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Appointed by Commissioner Ken Russell to the City of Miami Sea Level Rise Advisory Board (2016-2017) Appointed by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to the Miami Dade County Biscayne Bay Shoreline Development Review Committee (2016-ongoing) Miami Fellow with the Miami Foundation (2016-2017) New Leaders Council Institute (2016)