|
|
|
|
Alliance Happenings: SEAS Goes to CERF
Last month, 53 Alliance participants, staff, and alumni attended the 27th Biennial Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) conference in Portland, Oregon November 12-16. Their participation was funded by four National Science Foundation (NSF) grants awarded to the Alliance to support individuals from the territory in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Across all three hubs: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Guam and Puerto Rico, a total of 35 students, staff and alumni showcased their research findings and experiences within the STEM fields.
Puerto Rico Hub’s Mayerli De Jesus Vega won best undergraduate poster, entitled “Arthropods Diversity in mangroves and coastal forest surrounding the Bioluminescent Laguna Grande, Fajardo Puerto Rico”. Mayerli is a participant in the SEAS Centro TORTUGA undergraduate program that includes a student-led monitoring program at Laguna Grande. With mentorship of Dr. Maria Barberena Arias, Mayerli documented higher diversity in the coastal forest than the mangrove ecosystem. It was so exciting to see Mayerli run up to the ceremony stage to accept her award with the Puerto Rican flag!
USVI Hub’s, Miranda Goad, won 3rd place among all undergraduate oral presentations for her talk entitled, “Analysis of animal activity within mangrove wetlands on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Miranda participated in the Emerging Caribbean Scientists program at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and was mentored by Center for Marine & Environmental Studies faculty and staff, Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, Allie Durdall, and Allison Hoelvoet.
“This year marked the greatest representation from U.S. island territories in CERF’s history! It was really quite something to see the islands shine at this international meeting and to see our students and early career professionals share their research. Meetings like this one are an important networking and career development opportunity and I am grateful for funding from the NSF and NOAA that supported our participation,” says Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes.
Some other important events to note during this trip: SEAS Alliance hosted a social event of their own on Tuesday evening (November 14). This event was an opportunity for students and alumni attending the CERF conference to network and connect to like-minded STEM individuals. SEAS Islands alliance participants, staff, and alumni also attended the Rising Tides social event and reception Wednesday evening (November 15).
|
|
|
|
USVI SEAS Islands Alliance Summit 2023
|
|
|
Over 50 pathway participants, workforce fellows, and partners attended the USVI hub’s first SEAS Islands Alliance In-Person Summit on Saturday, December 2. The purpose of this summit was to provide and promote connection between the SEAS pathway programs. These programs include Junior and Youth Ocean Explorers Program (JOE/YOE), Emerging Caribbean Scientists Program (ECS), the University of the Virgin Islands Master of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program, the Bridge to PHD Program, and Workforce Fellows (SEAS, Securing STEM Island Pathways, and Navigating Home). Activities of the Summit included a gallery walk (where participants stuck post-it notes on photographs they connected most with), icebreaker bingo (where participants chatted and mingled, getting to know each other while also checking off bingo squares), and networking circle talks (where participants had the opportunity to learn about each pathway and the steps they can take to get involved)! A special thank you to all who attended!
|
|
Featured Opportunities
Masters Level Graduate Student Position at UMCES: Lora Harris is still accepting applications for a masters level graduate student to work on water quality and management issues in the Chesapeake Bay. Please see the announcement here.
UVI Master’s of Marine & Environmental Science Program: The admissions deadline is upcoming up on March 1, 2024. Learn more about the program here.
UVI’s Emerging Caribbean Scientists Program is currently accepting applications for Summer 2024. The program offers scholarships, summer programs, research experiences, mentoring, and supplemental instruction to UVI students majoring in STEM. Learn more and apply here.
Maryland SEA Grant Research Experience for Undergraduates program: This program brings upper-level undergraduate students to the Chesapeake Bay to conduct individual research projects with a scientist-mentor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. They select undergrads in many disciplines, including engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, ecology and marine and environmental science. The program runs for 12-weeks from May 19 to August 10, 2024. Learn more here.
Monterey Bay Research Experience for Undergraduates Program: California State University, Monterey Bay offers a 10-week REU in the beautiful Monterey Bay Region. Students collaborate with mentors at local host institutions to develop hypothesis-driven projects and receive critical feedback from mentors. Throughout the program, students complete a suite of professional development workshops and training. The summer culminates with our celebratory Summer Research Symposium. After program completion, students are provided funding to present their completed research at a conference. Learn more here.
The NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program provides a new level of engagement for youth aged 13-18 committed to ocean conservation and stewardship of our blue planet. They are looking for enthusiastic youth with new ideas and a unique perspective who want to learn more about America’s underwater treasures and share their passion with others. Learn more and apply here.
|
|
|
|
SEAS Table Talk with Dr. Karlissa Callwood
|
|
Please join the SEAS Islands Alliance for our second Table Talk of the 2023-2024 season as we welcome Dr. Karlisa Callwood.
Dr. Karlisa Callwood is a marine scientist, science communicator and educator who focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to evaluating fisheries and conservation management. With 19 years of experience developing and managing science education programming, her work ranges from community engagement and partnership development to leading and implementing DEAI initiatives across several organizations.
To learn more about Dr. Callwood's journey, please join this Table Talk on February 6 at 5pm EST / 6pm AST (February 7 8am ChST). Please register here.
|
|
|
Making Waves
Congratulations to Allison Hoelvoet who was selected as 1 of 7, 2024-2026 NOAA National Coral Reef Management Fellows for the State of Florida! She has accepted and will begin in January. Allison was a 2021 Bridge program participant and is a current SEAS Workforce Fellow at UVI working in the Grimes Lab.
Three SEAS undergraduates graduated in December 2023 from UVI: Miranda Goad (Marine Biology, Summa Cum Laude), Zach Briggs (Marine Biology, Magna Cum Laude) and Shimeeka Stanley (Biology). Congratulations!
The University of Guam brought a total of 47 UOG people to SACNAS 2023. Our 2023 delegation included our current INCLUDES undergraduates - Carl Del Rosario and Kedrick Diego (both presented and were awarded the SACNAS travel scholarship), Jessica Muyco (awarded the SACNAS travel scholarship), and Thuy Nguyen and Ariel Santiago (both presented).
From SACNAS, Thuy Nguyen went directly to San Antonio, TX to present her study at the Society of American Military Engineers Federal Small Business Conference [SAME 2023].
Britney Sison, an INCLUDES undergraduate alumni from the Guam hub, published a paper as a co-author with faculty research mentor Christopher Lobban. Several Bridge to Bachelor’s students were acknowledged in the paper for their contributions - Vonerick Boktok for collection of Marshall Island samples; Kebang Ngeraklang for collection from Palau, and Marlin Lee Ling for collection of Pohnpei samples. This major paper was published Dec. 4, open access, available here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
