Next Generation Cuts Their Teeth at Reserves Across the Country

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Reserves are great places for the next generation to get inspired and gain valuable training to prepare them for careers that will support the coastal and marine economy. We are so grateful to Reserves across the country for providing opportunities for the next generation of professionals to wade into their new careers. Here are some stories we were inspired by this fall.

Kachemak Bay

Claire Labuda created a monitoring program for Black-legged Kittiwake colonies at Alaska’s Kachemak Bay Reserve. Kittiwakes are an important indicator species for the health of nearshore fish populations, which sustain Alaska’s economy and coastal communities. She is majoring in fish, wildlife, and conservation biology at Colorado State University and was a Hollings Scholar at the Reserve this summer. Read the full story.

Great Bay

Clara Oxford worked with NOAA Office of Coastal Management, the University of New Hampshire, and the Great Bay Reserve to study the diets of Atlantic cod and striped bass—popular commercial fish species that are in decline—to help inform management decisions. She is a marine science major at Eckerd College and was a Hollings Scholar at the Reserve this summer. Read the full story.

Great Bay

Grace McCulloch researched habitat use of the saltmarsh sparrow—a state-listed Species of Greatest Conservation Need—at the Great Bay Reserve. She was a Margaret A. Davidson Fellow at the Reserve and master’s student at the University of New Hampshire studying Saltmarsh Sparrow Habitat and preparing for a career protecting vulnerable ecological communities. She was able to leverage her fellowship experience to land a job as the Community Science Project Leader at New Hampshire Audubon and is helping to host NHNPR’s podcast, “Something Wild.” Read the full story about her work at the Reserve.

Jobos Bay

Foraminifera (“forams”) are microscopic organisms that have existed in the ocean for millions of years. Their shells reflect past changes in atmospheric and oceanic conditions, making them valuable indicators of ocean health. Doctoral student Angelique Rosa Marín from the University of South Florida is using forams to evaluate water quality at the Jobos Bay Reserve in Puerto Rico. She also developed an educational module to teach others about her research. Read the full story.

Padilla Bay

Sarah Archer joined the education team at the Padilla Bay Reserve as a summer intern last year, and then transitioned into their AmeriCorps Individual Placement position in the fall. She worked behind the scenes at the aquarium, hosted a career panel, assisted with field trips, and assisted with sea star monitoring, among other things. In her own words: “My term at Padilla Bay has been the experience of a lifetime. I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from so many passionate people and kickstart my career in such a positive and lively environment!” Read the full story.