The Island View
Monthly Newsletter
Students learn at water's edge by Jeremy Gasowski
November 2019
Dear Friends,

Earlier this month, a core group of us from Shoals Marine Laboratory attended the Gulf of Maine 2050 International Symposium . This conference brought together both the scientific and stakeholder communities to evaluate the pressing environmental crisis in the Gulf of Maine. Over the course of five days, it was made clear that we are perilously close to a fork in the road for the future of the Gulf of Maine: One path leads to ocean water temperatures around those we experienced in the 1990’s (not ideal perhaps, but we will adjust). The other path leads to water temperatures above anything humans have previously experienced.

These forecasts might feel scary at first blush, but there is so much hope to be gained in the knowledge that we have the ability to choose our future! We need to start now to convert the mainland to look more like Shoals Marine Laboratory: carbon-free power creation and efficient energy usage. SML is a shining example of the science and methods to support this critical work.

The concern over which path our society will take underlines the tremendous need for strong science training programs to prepare the army of scientists, engineers, and environmentally literate citizens required to address these imminent challenges.

Never has the need for life-changing science education been so important. Shoals is a world-class center for undergraduate science training. We have a proven track record of training engaged and high-performing scientists, demonstrated by the many accomplished SML alumni and instructors who participated in the Gulf of Maine 2050 Symposium. The seven SML students who presented their research posters at the conference exemplify our hope for a science-guided, sustainable future.

You are helping us illuminate the path forward with your support. Leading sustainability practices, scientific conference participation, and world-class educational opportunities are made possible by you! All of us at SML are grateful for your support, as we could not do this without you. Your enthusiasm about our programs and mission inspires us to work hard toward providing outstanding experiential, place-based education and supporting innovative programs focused on understanding and sustaining the marine environment. Thank you for your generous support.
With deep appreciation and warm wishes,
Jennifer Seavey, Ph.D.
Kingsbury Executive Director
Shoals Marine Laboratory
Angela Brown, a counselor at Hampton Academy, is a passionate marine enthusiast and conservationist. At SML this summer, she participated in the Marine Science for Teachers workshop focused on educating students about the ocean environment and changes they can make toward sustainability. Learn more about her experience and how she helped empower student in her own school (including, as this photo shows, getting rid of plastic utensils in the dining hall).
SML welcomed a new addition to the Island this summer - a new refrigeration system! The work of SML's Sustainable Engineering Interns led to a recommendation to replace the energy-intensive, 30-year-old refrigeration system with a new, more efficient version. The work initiated by these interns highlights our continual effort to improve SML's sustainability.
*SML Sustainability Update*
After measuring our 2019 diesel fuel consumption for energy production, we calculated that in total we used 174 gallons, which represents an 88% reduction from when our first green energy grid was installed in 2007!
An Overheating Gulf of Maine Is Forcing Wildlife to Adapt—or Move appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of Audubon Magazine, and examines SML's tern conservation program. SML monitors the effect of a warming waters on the terns that nest on neighboring islands. As the ocean warms, there are astounding changes occurring throughout the ecosystem. The data gathered from the islands is being used to created informed conservation management strategies that will alleviate some of the pressure placed on these birds. We would like to thank all of the researchers, interns, and New Hampshire Fish and Game for their continual support and work in the field!
Yulibeth Vel á squez Mendoza, a student at the University of Magdalena in Columbia, conducted research at Shoals Marine Laboratory this summer through a partnership with Cornell. While on Appledore Island, Yulibeth investigated a parasite of American Lobsters. As a working mother, her story is inspiring and showcases amazing research.
 
Follow us on social media:
Shoals Marine Laboratory is a joint partnership between
Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire.