Aired on WUFT on January 24th, 2011

On Tuesday night the Marion County Commission will continue discussion about potentially taking over the operation of the Silver Springs attraction. One researcher planning to attend that meeting is Bob Knight. Knight did his doctoral research on the Silver River back in the 1970s under the guidance of the late Howard Odum at the University of Florida. Odum was the first scientist to study the ecosystem of the Silver River more than half a century ago. Now a new Florida Springs Institute has formed in his honor. Bob Knight is the Executive Director. Last Thursday about 130 people attended the inaugural reception for the organization. Knight told WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend the institute will work with a variety of state agencies to bring research and education efforts together under one umbrella to try and improve the health of Florida’s springs.