My guest today is Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega. He’s a local biologist who was born in Panama, but is now a US citizen. He’s worked at the Lee County Hyacinth Control District for more than 25 years, where he works to minimize aquatic weeds in public waters, and educate the public to that effect as well.
Ernesto got a Bachelor in Science in biology from the University of Panama, a Master in Science in aquaculture from Auburn University, and an Educational Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Central Florida.

He serves as a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, and Advisory Board of the Florida Sea Grant. And he’s been teaching environmental science, biology and microbiology at area universities since the early 90s.

On his own time (although it sounds like there’s not a ton of it) he’s been translating books, newsletters, and news articles to Spanish, and doing more biology stuff via international courses.