Dr. Van Leer co-teaches in the Ecosystem Science and Policy program and is Associate Professor of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. He received a Sc.D. in Physical Oceanography from the M.I.T/W.H.O.I. joint program in Oceanography and a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering. He designed and tested re-entry missile guidance systems at M.I.T. Instrumentation Laboratory (now Charles Stark Draper Lab) at the peak of the Cold War. Dr. Van Leer’s interests include Arctic Ocean measurements under sea-ice, and continental shelf measurements, especially in upwelling regions, including surface and bottom boundary layers. He developed and used autonomous moored profilers, called Cyclesondes, which have measured repeated profiles for months and reported data in real time by telemetry in diverse environments around the world. He led the effort at RSMAS to design the first oceanographic research vessel capable of sail/solar/electric hybrid operation and stabilized robotic sensor deployments.

Dr. Van Leer is a member of the Science and Technology Committee for Miami-Dade County Climate Change Task Force. He has campaigned for carbon dioxide reductions with the Union of Concerned Scientists on Capitol Hill. Dr. Van Leer is also on the Board of the Urban Environment League with interests in mass transportation, renewable energy and green building. He spearheaded construction of a system of safe bicycle paths along the Rickenbacker Causeway requiring an additional lane on all three bridges. Dr. Van Leer is co-advisor to “Living the Green Life” student organization and advocates for Sustainable Living Practices whenever possible.