The Island View
Monthly Newsletter
July 2019
Dear Shoals Community,

Greetings from Appledore! July is perhaps the busiest time of summer here at the lab. We have three classes running concurrently – including a new course, Integrated Ecosystem Research and Management that Dr. Seavey is co-teaching. Students in our Marine Environmental Science course and those enrolled in the first phase of our Research Apprenticeship program, Investigative Marine Biology Laboratory, are also on island. Students are in the intertidal, out on boats, in the PK lab working in sea tables and the Kiggins Commons is, of course, buzzing at mealtime.

In addition to courses, the Shoals Undergraduate Research Group (SURG) is in its 7th week of field research. SURG students are involved in a wide variety of research topics this summer that range from gull population biology to parasite exposure in fish and lobsters. The SURG program culminates with our 3rd annual Undergraduate Research Symposium that will be held here on Appledore on Saturday, August 10th. The symposium is open to the public, so if you are interested in attending please reach out to the Shoals office about the schedule for the day.

We are fortunate to have a highly capable and professional staff that provides the support our classes and researchers need to ensure everyone has a productive and successful summer here at the lab. The days are long here on Appledore but somehow the summer seems to be flying by!

The island sends you warm wishes and we hope to see you soon!
Cheers,
David Buck, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Shoals Marine Laboratory
SML Faculty Ebett Siddon Honored
SML alum and faculty, Dr. Elizabeth (Ebett) Siddon, has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Dr. Siddon is a Research Fishery Biologist for the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Program and leads the Southeastern Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Assessment.

Ebett first came to SML as a student in Underwater Research in 1997. She served as co-faculty for SML’s Underwater Research course from 2005 to 2018 and is returning to SML in 2019 as a faculty member in a new course, Integrated Ecosystem Research and Management. In addition to her work with NOAA, Ebett co-founded SouthEast Exchange - a community partnership between scientists and teachers to bring place-based science opportunities into classrooms. She is also a recently elected member of the Board of Education in her hometown of Juneau, Alaska.

Her commitment to research and education is an inspiration to all her SML family. Congrats Ebett!
Sweet Dreams
Shoals is looking for your support to provide our students and visitors with the best sleep possible, so that we can all remain happy and healthy. We can’t turn down the volume of the gulls, but we can update our bedding! We are specifically looking for donations to purchase new pillows, mattress protectors, and blankets. 
 
We have estimated that purchasing 50 new pillows will cost ~$550, 100 new mattress protectors will cost ~$2,000, and that 200 new blankets will cost ~$7,000. 

Please contact Jennifer Seavey for more information if you can help.
Alumni Corner
Photo courtesy of Ali Nelson
Have some alumni news you'd like to share with us? We want to hear from you! Click the button to send us a message!
  • Serving as the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and Peace Boat youth delegate, SML alum Ali Nelson (Bucknell '20) has been representing the partnership between the two organizations this summer at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. This past June, Ali attended the United Nations World Oceans Day Conference, assisting in planning the official UN reception which was held onboard the Peace Boat and participating in various events focused on ocean and climate action.
  • Randi Rotjan, SML alum and biologist at Boston University, had her research on corals and microplastics featured in National Geographic. Randi's team found that coral polyps have been eating microplastics, to the coral's detriment.
Visit Appledore: Shoals Ecology
Does all this great news about the island have you missing science at Shoals Marine Laboratory? Never fear! You can get your fill of ornithology, marine mammal biology, and ocean ecology in Shoals Ecology: Seabirds, Seals, and Seaweed , from August 26-28. Visit SML for an all-inclusive, 3-day, 2-night marine biology experience!
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Shoals Marine Laboratory is a joint partnership between
Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire.