Michael just completed an awesome Master’s thesis with a focus on the “Spatial and Seasonal Controls on Eddy Subduction in the Southern Ocean”. With profiling ocean robots, mixing, phytoplankton and Southern Ocean, what is there not to love? Great job Michael!!!
Rutgers University and Teledyne Webb Research unveiled The Sentinel Mission in a remarkable display of academic and technological collaboration. This unprecedented initiative marks the beginning of an ambitious journey as Teledyne’s Slocum Sentinel Glider, “Redwing,” (Research & Education Doug Webb Inter-National Glider) prepares for a historic round-the-world flight. Redwing is an acronym for “Research & Education Doug Webb Inter-National Glider”. The mission is further strengthened by the involvement of NOAA, the Marine Technology Society, and the UN Ocean Decade. The event, which took place at Rutgers University on April 23, showcased the intricate planning and resilient partnership behind The Sentinel Mission. The Redwing glider, embodying the intersection of Research and Education, pays homage to Doug Webb, a pioneer of autonomous underwater technology. The glider stands not only as an innovative piece of machinery but also as a symbol of global research unity and exploration. Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway delivered remarks, along with several esteemed faculty members, each sharing their encouragement and support of this mission. Teledyne Marine staff members, Clayton Jones, Senior Director of Technology and Shea Quinn, Slocum Glider Product Line Manager, provided insight into the history of Slocum gliders and how this mission will affect the future of ocean science. A highlight of the event was the christening of the glider, “Redwing,” with seawater from Cape Cod, signifying its readiness for its summer 2024 launch. Attendees witnessed a blend of time-honored maritime tradition with cutting-edge innovation. A cohort of Rutgers’ brightest undergraduate students presented the mission’s flight path. Their extensive planning encompassed considerations for ocean currents, water conditions, and other environmental variables. These presentations highlighted the exceptional educational experiences at Rutgers, exemplifying the university’s dedication to hands-on, impactful learning. Insights from international partners integral to the mission’s global scope further enriched the event. With each presentation, the essence of collaborative spirit and international cooperation became clearer, setting the stage for a truly global expedition. The day’s activities culminated with a closer look at the Sentinel Glider, showcasing its capabilities compared to standard models. The academic community, including master’s students and faculty, engaged in fruitful discussions about sensor integrations and future research applications. The Sentinel Mission’s anticipated launch in the summer of 2024 will contribute to our understanding of the oceans and serve as an inspiring testament to the power of academic-industry partnerships and the indomitable human spirit of discovery. About Teledyne Webb Research: Teledyne Marine is a group of leading-edge technology companies that are part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated. Through acquisitions and collaboration, Teledyne Marine has evolved into an industry powerhouse, bringing Imaging, Instruments, Interconnect, Seismic, and Vehicle technology to provide solutions to our customers. For more information, please visit www.teledynemarine.com. About Rutgers University: Rutgers University is a leading national research institution that has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation and education. The Sentinel Mission represents the university’s commitment to exploring new frontiers. For more information on the mission’s background and Rutgers’ history with such initiatives, please visit the Challenger Glider Mission website at www.rutgers.edu. Original article at Rutgers NJAES Newsroom
On April 18, McKinley Community School in New Brunswick welcomed 11 undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty from Rutgers University in a night of STEM learning. This program was designed to inspire and engage the next generation of science-informed students and to break down barriers to science learning and engagement through a fun family event. A team led by research faculty member Javier Zavala-Garay of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS), engaged with more than 180 students and their families in hands-on activities around climate change. One such activity was the Carbon Cycle game, where kids made a carbon “bracelet or keychain” to build their understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle. Students also played the Fish Migration game, which is a human board game designed to help kids understand the impact of warming waters in the north Atlantic. Other stations included one on the impacts of climate change where families conducted simple demonstrations to understand glacier melt and sea level rise and the impacts of climate change here in New Jersey. Using M&Ms, kids also learn how scientists collect/analyze data. The department also had an ocean glider from the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) on hand as an example of an oceanographic data collection tool. Finally, DMCS presented a Carbon Footprint activity, a craft activity to help kids talk about their carbon footprint and how we can fight climate change and be more sustainable. Local students from P-Tech High School also partnered with the team, providing bi-lingual student volunteers to assist with translations for the families and support their younger community members in STEM learning. These students engaged in community service, which is highly valued by the school and community. Zavala-Garay has been a research scientist in DMCS for 18 years, and is a strong supporter of the department’s outreach program. He’s participated in the 4-H STEM Ambassador program, serving as a research role model in on-campus activities and events. “Participating in the family science night was important for me because, given my own life experience as a son of a very low-income family in Mexico, I feel I can recognize how crucial and valuable role models can be in low-income communities.” From his experience with working with local communities, Zavala-Garay has found that “there is a lot of interest in learning more about how the ocean works. This gave me a lot of hope and motivates me to try to find ways to interact more with the local community in order to promote and support young diverse youth in pursuing a major in oceanography or any other major in the STEM field.” Dr. Janene Rodriquez, Principal of McKinley Community School, is busy addressing the New Jersey Department of education’s recently established and first-in-the-nation State Standards on Climate Change for grades K-12. The standards were issued by first lady and Governor Murphy in 2023 to prepare students to understand how and why climate change happens, the impact it has on our local and global communities and how we can act in informed and sustainable ways. Principal Rodriguez notes that “the partnership with Rutgers for this Joint Family Science Day event on climate change was significant. We not only nurture scientific curiosity, but also foster a sense of collective responsibility towards our planet. More importantly, we empower our families to become stewards of environmental sustainability, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.” Scientists at the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences and educators in the Department of 4-H Youth Development are scaling up efforts to collaborate and partner with schools, in our university mission to provide quality STEM education and inspire a new generation of STEM-informed and STEM-interested young people. Full article at SEBSNJAES News
The second annual Marine Technology Society New Jersey Student Section Research Symposium took place on Friday, April 5th, at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station and Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve in Tuckerton, NJ. This symposium convened 40 participants for a day focused on networking and student presentations. Attendees included undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff from Rutgers University, Stockton University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The event commenced with a diverse marine technology panel featuring speakers from the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Attentive Energy, and Bluepoint Wind. Panelists shared insights from their career paths and discussed the future of marine technology across various sectors. Following the panel, six graduate students delivered concise, five-minute lightning talks on a wide array of topics utilizing marine technologies. After lunch, a hybrid poster session took place, where both undergraduate and graduate students showcased their research projects. This session was unique as it included stations for dry-demonstrations of various marine technology equipment. A standout feature was Bluepoint Wind’s Virtual Reality experience, providing a simulation of being on a turbine platform. The symposium concluded with a tour of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station, featuring the deployment of a Sofar Ocean Spotter Buoy in the nearby boat basin. The New Jersey Student Section expresses gratitude to MTS for funding this event and looks forward to fostering continued growth within the marine technology community. Original article at MTS
Congratulations to Travis Miles and Kim Thamatrakoln who are being promoted to Associate Professors and granted tenure. They have worked so hard and are important to our marine nerd family, so we celebrate their well deserved success! Travis’s research is focused on processes that are associated with physical ocean boundaries, including ocean interactions with the atmosphere above, the seafloor below, the land and the sea, and between the different water layers within the ocean interior itself. External scientists pronounced his work is the wave of the future and we are excited he is part of our team. Kim is a world leader and an extremely creative and collaborative researcher who blends functional genomics, transcriptomic and biochemical approaches with algal ecophysiology, virology, biophysics, and molecular genetics in order to address fundamental aspects of microbial ecology, biological-chemical interactions, biomineralization, molecular ecophysiology, and biogeochemistry of marine phytoplankton. She has become an indispensable resource to our students and speaking for myself look forward to learning from her great science for years to come!! What great news for Friday!
Rutgers scientists point to improved environmental conditions as possible reason The Atlantic surf clam, an economically valuable species that is the main ingredient in clam chowder and fried clam strips, has returned to Virginia waters in a big way, reversing a die-off that started more than two decades ago. In a comprehensive study of surf clams collected from an area about 45 miles due east from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Rutgers scientists found the population to be thriving and growing. A likely reason could be that environmental conditions improved, and another possibility is that the clams adapted, the scientists said. The report, published in the science journal Estuaries and Coasts, details the characteristics of a population of healthy-size surf clams of different ages living just under the surface of the sandy ocean bottom. And it’s all a bit of a surprise. “It’s unexpected and it’s good news,” said Daphne Munroe, an associate professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and an author of the study. “They disappeared some time ago – we thought they were gone. But we found there were more clams there than we thought we were going to see. And they are flourishing.” Full article at Rutgers Today
Alex López was one of three faculty speakers for OTEAR’s “Inclusive Practices Spotlight: Strategies from Rutgers’ Instructors” workshop this Friday, highlighting the value of student-led learning and sharing implementation strategies used in the MS of Operational Oceanography degree program. Faculty across Rutgers are incorporating various strategies to create inclusive learning environments for their students. This session spotlighted just a few of those instructors to explain what and how they have implemented.