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Tuesday, 02/06/2024 – 11:36am | Posted by: Gabriela Sinski
Undergraduate students in the School of Marine Science and Engineering (SOSE) at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) have unique opportunities to prepare for jobs in the blue economy, including through a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct fieldwork. It is being In the Gulf of Mexico.
Dr. Jennifer Walker, associate dean for coastal operations in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a partner in this effort and will introduce students to marine science and biology through intersession courses that focus on shipboard disciplines and laboratory research. We support people to excel in the world. Ride in an R/V point sir.5 days after the ship leaves Gulfport Port The ship then set sail for Tampa, Florida, where those on board were immersed in marine biology, chemistry, biology, and geology for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“We want our students to experience more techniques. If they go to graduate school or work in an agency, the expectation is that they know how to do some of these things. ,” Dr. Walker said.
Dr. Walker didn’t have the same experience of working on a ship when he was an undergraduate. However, as a professor, she leverages her USM’s many resources to provide students with opportunities to develop skills that will help them land jobs in the marine science and biology fields in the future. . Through her interstitial classes, cruises are offered to juniors and seniors twice a year with her, and up to eight students can participate in a cruise in her R/V. south point
Karina Ledesma, a fourth-year marine science major, participated in two research expeditions. She says this experience, along with the skills she gained, was an unforgettable part of her life.
“This opens up a lot of doors,” Ledesma said. “Being able to do this trip has created a lot of opportunities. Students can learn new techniques, which gives them a richer set of abilities.”
Ledezma said embarkation day was a day of safety training and wrapping up for the week ahead. Roommates will be assigned along with the opportunity to network on board.
“It’s a good combination of everything we need to learn,” Ledesma explained. “Every day we had to rotate through our activities and socialize. It’s a good networking opportunity. Each day had its own plan.”
As the cruise headed toward the West Florida Escarpment, students participated in daily activities such as measuring temperature and salinity using a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) instrument. The students also successfully sent Styrofoam cups in mesh bags thousands of feet to the ocean floor. The deeper the cup sank toward the ocean floor, the more pressure was exerted and the size of the cup decreased. The deepest depth a Styrofoam cup was sent during a cruise between sessions is 9,512 feet.
“We do this to show how depth affects objects, so students can take something home with them,” Dr. Walker said. “Everyone likes that cup.”
As the cruise continued, the students acclimatized to the weather conditions at sea and were able to disembark the ship and snorkel before observing the marsh ecosystem and observing seagrass beds. At the end of the cruise, the students reflected on their time on board and presented their research results. point sir.
Dr. Walker plans to continue his intersession courses and cruises in 2024, focusing on observing microplastics and nutrient levels in coastal and offshore waters. She also wants to study the density of sea urchins and other organisms in grass beds and wetland habitats along the Florida coast, and these findings could be used in future studies.
Natalie Santiago, a fourth-year marine biology student, plans to find a career in fieldwork at sea after she graduates from USM in May 2025.
“This provides students working with a variety of equipment with hands-on experience about the scientific processes that take place in fieldwork, as well as an overall understanding of working on a scientific research vessel. “I did,” Santiago said.
A partnership with EPA allows USM students to obtain internships along with other research opportunities. Ledesma said his cruise experience led to his two internships and the confidence to work out at sea.
“I encourage students to take this trip because it’s so worth it,” she said.
Learn more about how USM students, faculty, and staff are focused on the future of work in the blue economy.
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