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Dear Friends of Shoals Marine Laboratory,
Breathe in. Half the air entering your lungs in this moment was made by the ocean’s microalgae. Thirsty? The vast majority (97%) of the world’s water is held in the ocean. Looking for a new job? Half of the world lives next to the ocean and the blue economy contributes more than 3.1 million jobs in the U.S. alone. The ocean is critical to our everyday life and the world’s well-being. Science has a major role to play in determining how we protect the ocean today and for future generations. Shoals Marine Laboratory has been engaged in marine science for over 50 years and we are actively working to accelerate scientific discovery and understanding in many ways.
This summer, we will welcome our first Shoals Scientists-in-Residence Fellows to Appledore Island. This program supports early-career scientists by providing logistical, intellectual, and financial support to enable them to immerse themselves in the process of discovery. We are excited to welcome Dr. Brian Cheng this summer as one of our two fellows! You can read more about Brian below, and stay tuned to meet our second fellow in next month’s newsletter.
In addition, we are in our second year of a program called Teaching for Research, in which SML faculty can use time spent teaching a course at SML towards on-island research time for their own projects. Last summer, Teaching for Research enlivened SML's research community and fostered new scientific collaborations among our faculty. We also have new research fee incentives to encourage visiting researchers to bring undergraduates to SML as research assistants.
Finally, we are radically increasing the number and variety of research mentors assigned to help SML's undergraduate internship program. Interns will now have direct interaction with three to four PhD-level mentors on Appledore throughout the summer
plus
the principal investigators who oversee each project. Presenting students with a greater variety of research mentors significantly improves their retention and skills in scientific research.
Our community, infrastructure, location, access to natural systems, existing data sets, and the many ways we support field studies combine to make SML a great place for science! We are committed to science education and the sustainability of coastal and ocean resources, and we look forward to sharing our work with you.
With deep appreciation and warm wishes,
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Jennifer Seavey, Ph.D.
Kingsbury Director of the Shoals Marine Laboratory
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2017 Scientist-in-Residence Fellow: Dr. Brian Cheng
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Brian Cheng is a marine ecologist whose research is centered on solving problems in coastal ecosystems. His work explores how marine species respond to climate change, the invasion of non-native species, and marine protected areas. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution, and in September he will begin a new position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
At SML this summer, Brian will be examining the role of climate change in driving a reported decline of introduced European green crabs and the simultaneous rise of non-native Asian shore crabs. In parts of New England, green crabs have declined by as much as 90%, whereas shore crabs have increased up to ten-fold. Why is this? Brian’s research will address the potential role of Gulf of Maine warming in driving these different population trajectories using field and laboratory experiments.
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Thanks, Brian, for providing this description and photo! To learn more about Brian's research, visit his website:
bscheng.com
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Welcoming Dr. Kristen Covino as Field Ornithology Faculty
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Many of you know Kristen Covino as a key member of the Appledore Island Migration Station (AIMS). Kristen began volunteering with AIMS in 2003 and has returned to Appledore Island nearly every year since then while conducting her undergraduate, Master’s thesis and PhD thesis research on migratory songbirds.
Last week, Kristen was elected to the Wilson Ornithological Society (WOS) council and was joined at the 2017 WOS conference by fellow Shoalers, Dr. Sara Morris (AIMS Principal Investigator) and Hannah Elsinghorst (Canisius College ’16).
This summer, we are excited to welcome Dr. Kristen Covino to the SML faculty! She will be teaching our Field Ornithology course (May 29-June 12, 2017), and we can’t imagine a better person for the job!
Learn more about SML's Field Ornithology course!
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Hannah Elsinghorst, Dr. Sara Morris & Dr. Kristen Covino at a recent ornithological conference.
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SML Course Spotlight:
Field Introductory Oceanography
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Attention undergraduates! Join two all-star SML faculty members, Dr. Erik Zettler (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) and Dr. Justin McAlister (College of the Holy Cross), for Field Introductory Oceanography Lab in July!
Students in this course will gain familiarity with the basic concepts, field techniques, and equipment used by biological oceanographers as they explore the Gulf of Maine waters around Appledore Island. Minimal lecture time, maximum boat time is the theme of this field immersion course.
This course is offered with two options:
1-week option: July 17-24, 2017
2-week option: July 17-31, 2017
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2017 Adult & Family Programs!
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Come experience SML's innovative public programming in August and September, and enjoy the magic of Appledore Island and the Isles of Shoals. Each of our
Adult & Family Programs
is
all-inclusive, and their unique themes
reflect SML's mission to educate visitors about the marine environment and sustainability.
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August 28-September 1, 2017
Join local visual artists Wendy Turner and Hannah Phelps for a week of drawing, painting, and printmaking. Use the rugged seascapes and landscapes of the Isles of Shoals as your palette. Work at your own pace with your preferred medium. Instruction, daily demos, exploration, inspiring scenery, and an art exhibition – with island ecology mixed in!
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September 2-4, 2017
In this unique retreat, we bring together ecologists and chefs to interpret the many natural gifts the Isles of Shoals have to offer. Y
ou will gain a deep appreciation for local, sustainable cuisine.
Featuring award-winning chefs Evan Mallett (Black Trumpet in Portsmouth, NH) and Sam Hayward (Fore Street & Scales in Portland, ME). Bring your appetite for food and knowledge!
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The Shoals Semester is a new, exciting program that allows undergraduates to accelerate their academic program by enrolling in a full semester of credit courses over the summer at SML.
Shoals Semester students combine (at least) four non-overlapping SML courses to create a customized program that aligns with their individual interests or course of study. Why enroll in a Shoals Semester? Students can replace a fall or spring semester to graduate early, or they can pursue an internship or job opportunity available during the regular academic year.
Financial support is available through SML scholarships. Plus, special room and board discounts apply to students who take multiple courses. Interested Cornell CALS students should inquire about using their Cornell financial aid package towards a Shoals Semester. Make this the summer you dive into marine science!
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Seasonal Staff Positions
Join our team! Open positions include:
an island engineer, a captain, and a chef.
Seasonal staff positions at SML are full-time, May-September. Staff work 5 days/week on-island with room & board provided. Time-off housing in the Seacoast area is available. Applicants should be interested in sustainable living at a remote island field station and demonstrate a positive, teamwork-oriented work ethic.
Seasonal Staff applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Spread the word!
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SML Artist-in-Residence Program
This summer, we will select several artists to join us at SML, each spending ~2 weeks living and creating art on Appledore Island. Artists will engage with students in courses and internships in order to cultivate and develop students' observational skills. In turn, the artists are welcomed into SML's scientific community and research activities, thus deepening their own understanding of the natural world and sparking original ideas.
Artist-in-Residence applications will be accepted until April 1, 2017.
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