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!

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.

Multidisciplinary collaboration involving three schools and multiple departments will combine efforts of environmental and marine scientists as well as engineers A Rutgers research project focused on offshore wind energy is poised to make New Jersey a global leader in the field in a little more than a decade. The effort being launched by Rutgers researchers includes two key components: The design of a so-called Net-Zero Wind Energy Test (WET) Center, a warehouse-size testing facility to be potentially located somewhere close to the Jersey Shore; and the creation of a much smaller WET Lab which will be located on the Rutgers University–New Brunswick campus. Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway says new efforts in wind energy research focus on a “grand challenge of science and society.” The new venture, which aims to address scientific and engineering challenges in testing a floating offshore wind turbine, will position Rutgers at the center of what is expected to be one of the most ambitious wind power research projects in the United States. The project is one of four winning proposals selected for funding in March 2023 by Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway as part of her Chancellor Challenge fostering the development of transformational, campus-wide initiatives to fulfill the goals of Rutgers-New Brunswick’s Academic Master Plan. “This outstanding project was selected through a rigorous, competitive review of proposals to catalyze exploration, collaboration, concept-testing and risk-taking,” Conway said. “Its success will rest on the efforts of cross-disciplinary teams from multiple Rutgers–New Brunswick units. Importantly, it focuses the power of our research on a grand challenge of science and society.” The effort will capitalize on a surge of support for wind energy, including public funds that Gov. Phil Murphy invested into wind power development through the Wind Institute for Innovation and Training. The project will make Rutgers globally known for wind research, says Onur Bilgen, a leader of the project and an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Photo: Rutgers School of Engineering “Our broad vision is that, by 2035, New Jersey will be among the global leaders in offshore wind energy research, technology development and testing, and that Rutgers will be globally known for its multidisciplinary approach to the economics, engineering and the social and environmental science and policy of wind energy,” said Onur Bilgen, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the Rutgers School of Engineering (SOE.) Bilgen is leading the project with Josh Kohut, co-founder of the Center for Ocean Observing Leadership and a professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS.) The effort will receive about $1.1 million from the Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor’s Office. The WET Center is one of the first flagship interdisciplinary projects of the newly created Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute (RCEI), announced by Conway in October, and which is another initiative of Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Academic Master Plan. The WET Center is a “signature investment” for the university, says Julie Lockwood, interim director of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute. Photo: Rutgers Climate and Energy Center “The WET Center is a signature investment into cutting-edge climate change and renewable energy scholarship and education through RCEI,” said Julie Lockwood, RCEI’s interim director and a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at SEBS. “Its innovative design fosters collaboration among scholars from a variety of academic fields, which enhances the impact of Rutgers on next-generation wind energy production.” Studying offshore wind energy systems – constellations of turbines installed in the ocean as opposed to land – offers a unique opportunity to build bridges across campuses, Bilgen said. Wind energy systems, especially offshore, are more expensive to install and maintain than land-based wind energy and conventional energy sources. But there have been several recent technological advances that may change that, including the development of multidisciplinary design optimization tools; new light and strong composite materials, structures and coatings; and manufacturing and installation methods. Concentrated, collaborative efforts will continue to yield further innovations, Bilgen said. In the organizers’ vision for the larger test facility called WET Center, which will require governmental and industry support to build and operate, researchers will be able to test near-full-scale versions of Eiffel Tower-size wind turbines designed to float in the deep ocean, Bilgen said. Researchers working at the smaller WET Lab will be able to test much smaller versions of the giant machines. That facility also will be the center of efforts to give rise to and foster new interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty and students. Those leading the effort will develop and implement a laboratory course and course modules for integration into existing courses. Josh Kohut, a professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, will co-lead the project. The effort will engage a large cohort of engineering and marine science researchers. Photo: Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership Kohut, a marine scientist, praised Bilgen for developing the concept of a research facility for offshore wind power and engaging so many faculty members with diverse interests. “Onur had this really great idea of planning for a research facility necessary for advancing offshore wind in the region – and he generously engaged all the groups that were working in that space,” said Kohut. “There’s something like 60 faculty members across the university who are engaged in some aspect of offshore wind. The WET Lab that will be put together through this effort will engage the engineering and marine science researchers of this broader Rutgers offshore wind community at Rutgers.” Faculty from SOE, SEBS, and the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences will be involved in center research. In addition to Bilgen and Kohut, five other faculty members, spanning multiple departments, will play critical roles in the effort. Participating faculty from SOE include: Assistant Professor Laurent Burlion in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Assistant Professor Aziz Ezzat in the Department of Industrial Engineering; and Assistant Professor Roger Wang in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Those participating from SEBS include: Assistant Professor Travis

5/9/2024 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 4/22/2024 Sentinel Mission Blog: Entry 4 – April 23rd Welcome back to the Sentinel Mission Blog! You may remember that in last week’s post we talked about some of the hazards around our launch and what steps we would take to ensure that it would be successful. As we get closer to our launch date, it’s critical that we spread the word about our Mission. Thankfully, we have a day set aside especially for that: April 23rd. So, what exactly will we be doing on April 23rd? To put it simply, we will be having a wide variety of people present during our class time. From 8:30 – 9:50, we will have guest speakers that range from Rutgers Administrators, Teledyne and NOAA Representatives, our correspondents in the countries that we’ll make our stops in, to our very own classmates and students. Now that we have an idea of what April 23rd is going to look like, we should get more specific with what we will actually be happening. First of all, The President of Rutgers, Jonathan Holloway, and the Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Laura Lawson, will be giving a brief introductory speech and comments. Once they finish, We’ll move on to our next guest speakers, Craig McClean and Trisha Bergmann from NOAA. This class, Topics in Marine Sciences, has had a relationship with NOAA since its inception. Afterall, they were the ones who officially challenged us to cross the Atlantic with a glider in 2009! After they finish, we will have some representatives from Teledyne Marine, Clayton Jones and Shea Quinn, introduce the Sentinel Glider. Once they say a few Words, they’ll christen the glider with some seawater! Once Shea finishes her speech, it’ll be time for the efforts of the students throughout the semester to be revealed in our class presentation! We’ll be discussing a variety of topics, such as, the Sentinel Mission, the Sentinel Glider, any trinkets that we’ll put inside the glider, the route we’ll be taking, the hazards we’ll be dealing with, outreach, and more. After our class presentation finishes and we have a short Q&A Session, we’ll move on to our last section, Comments from some of our International partners. From Spain, we have Ana Mancho, who leads the Geophysical Dynamics Group at the Instituto de Ciencias Matematicas, Enrique Alvarez, who is the head of the Physical Oceanography division at Puertos Del Estado, Antonio Ramos, who made the Glider position prediction system Pinzon, and Carlos Barrera, who is the Head of the Ocean-Vehicles Unit with the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands. From South Africa, we have Tammy Morris, who is the Senior Manager for Marine at the South African Weather Service. From Australia, we have Chari Pattiarachi, who is the Head of the Coastal Oceanography Group of the University of Western Australia. From New Zealand, we have Joe O’Callaghan, who founded Aotearoa New Zealand’s glider facility. A big point of our April 23rd presentation

A 4-H youth development program changes perceptions, making students insiders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics Role models, often parents or other close family members, serve as crucial sources of inspiration for students engaged in making career choices in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to research studies. A big part of what Janice McDonnell is doing with a program known as Rutgers 4-H STEM Ambassadors is to connect students without a STEM role model in their families or communities with working scientists. McDonnell is an associate professor and Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Agent in the Department of 4-H Youth Development, at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). She runs the program, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb, with Chad Ripberger, the county extension department head of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County. McDonnell discussed the importance of the STEM Ambassadors program. Full article at Rutgers News

This article was authored by Grace Saba, associate professor, and Josh Kohut, professor,  faculty in Rutgers University’s Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences. From late April to late September, Rutgers researchers used underwater robots, called gliders, to track ocean water quality along the New Jersey coast. Through a series of glider deployments, water quality measures of oxygen concentrations and pH were mapped from surface to bottom along the New Jersey coast. From August through September, much of the bottom water sampled from Sandy Hook south to Tuckerton, and from nearshore (15 meter, or 50 feet, water depth) to deeper depths (60 meter, or 200 feet, water depth), exhibited dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 5 mg/liter and pH values less than 7.75. Coast-wide, hypoxic levels of dissolved oxygen (concentrations < 3 mg/liter) were observed at shallower, more inshore locations. In addition to low pH measured in bottom waters, which is indicative of ocean acidification, aragonite saturation state (a relevant metric for biological impacts of ocean acidification) was calculated to be < 1 in several locations. Normal, more optimal levels in seawater typically include dissolved oxygen concentrations > 7 mg/liter, pH of 8.1, and aragonite saturation states > 3. Saba and Kohut discuss the implications for their summer observations of low dissolved oxygen and pH off the coast of New Jersey, and offer some next steps in their research. Why are these values concerning? As is true for land animals, oxygen is essential to ocean animals. Dissolved oxygen concentrations at or below 5 mg/liter is considered problematic for marine life. Although concentrations between 3-5 mg/liter may not be low enough to directly cause death in many marine animals, research focused on New Jersey species has identified other negative impacts such as reduced metabolism, feeding, growth, and reproduction at these levels. Lower hypoxic concentrations of dissolved oxygen (< 3 mg/liter) have been directly associated with mortalities in some organisms in New Jersey and in other coastal regions around the world. Increased carbon dioxide in seawater leads to a series of chemical reactions that increases the acidity of the ocean (measured as a reduction in pH) and reduces carbonate ions that are vital to the production of shells and other protective structures of marine animals (made of calcium carbonate, such as aragonite). As such, aragonite saturation state is used as an indicator of ocean acidification because as the ocean absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide, both pH and aragonite saturation state decrease, and can lead to reduced survival, calcification rates, growth, and reproduction in marine animals. When aragonite saturation state is less than 1, shells and other calcium carbonate structures begin to dissolve, but some organisms become susceptible at levels below 3. Any one stressor may not itself be an issue due to the resiliency of many coastal species to fluctuating natural environmental conditions. However, when more than one stressor occurs simultaneously, an organism may become unable to fully withstand changes. The impacts of multiple stressors occurring simultaneously on organism health is much less well known. The co-occurrence of low dissolved oxygen and pH may exacerbate negative responses in organisms, or increase their susceptibility to either or both oxygen and pH.   Left: Mission tracks of three gliders (ru28, ru39, ru40) deployed off the coast of New Jersey in August and September. Gliders ru39 and ru40 were deployed as a pair along the same mission track. All gliders had sensors measuring temperature and salinity. Gliders ru28 and ru40 each had an additional sensor measuring dissolved oxygen (no pH or aragonite saturation state), and glider ru39 had an additional sensor measuring pH (no dissolved oxygen). Right: Locations of hypoxic levels of dissolved oxygen (magenta; < 3 mg/liter) and low aragonite saturation state (cyan; < 1) measured along the glider mission tracks and locations of reported fish, lobster, and/or crab mortalities (red X).   Complete cross-sections of dissolved oxygen concentrations (left top and bottom), pH (right top), and aragonite saturation state (right bottom) measured along the mission tracks during the deployments of the three gliders (ru28, ru39, ru40) during August and September. Dissolved oxygen concentrations between 3-5 mg/liters are expressed as orange & yellow, and hypoxic concentrations < 3 mg/liter are expressed as red. pH values < 7.75 and aragonite saturation states < 1 are highlighted in cyan.   Reports of fish, lobster, and crab mortalities During the time when low dissolved oxygen and pH were observed, numerous mortalities of fish, lobsters and crabs within the sampling area were reported. The mortalities were observed in bottom waters primarily off the coast of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and included the Mud Hole, as far east as Lillian wreck, and southward in Sea Girt and Axel Carlson Reefs and the surrounding areas. Mortalities were reported for American lobsters, Jonah crab, Atlantic rock crab, spider crabs, black sea bass, and tautog were reported not only in pots where trapped organisms would not have been able to escape poor conditions, but also on the open bottom. This observation suggests that if low dissolved oxygen and/or pH were indeed the culprit for these reported mortalities, the area may have been extensive enough that they could not escape in time. Mortalities associated with low dissolved oxygen in New Jersey coastal waters or other locations is not new. The most extreme hypoxic event documented in the State occurred during the summer of 1976, whereby mass mortalities of marine organisms occurred over a 12,000 km2 area. More recently, numerous fish, lobster, and crab mortalities were associated with low dissolved oxygen in Cape Cod Bay in September 2019, and hypoxic conditions have been identified as the culprit of mortalities and changes in bottom water communities in the Gulf of Mexico’s notorious summer-time ‘Dead Zone’ since the beginning of annual observations that started in 1985. What causes low dissolved oxygen and pH in bottom water? A common seasonal phenomenon in New Jersey coastal shelf waters is strong summer stratification whereby cold water near the bottom is capped off by

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — What does the future hold for food security through agriculture and marine technologies? New Jersey high school students will discover the answers as part of an innovative USDA-funded 4-H afterschool program that provides youth with immersive science learning through digital storytelling, made in trusting partnership with Rutgers scientists. Faculty and researchers from the departments of Plant Biology and Marine and Coastal Science (DMCS) at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and the Department of 4-H Youth Development at New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), in collaboration with Carlton College’s Science Education Resource Center (SERC), have been awarded a four-year $748,698 USDA NIFA Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education Program grant to make this project a reality. Starting this fall, the grant, “Food, Agriculture, and MarinE (FAME) 4-H Ag Tech Program,” will support 100 underserved high school youth to direct and produce short Food Systems Solution Science video stories as part of a 4-H positive youth development afterschool program. This program builds upon the innovative science-in-action video storytelling model developed at Rutgers, as well as the recent community impact of our science-in-action film, Fields of Devotion, and the success of the RUCAFE FAME pilot project. Through a positive 4-H youth development model, the students will be fully supported to create their original short science video stories. Their student-authored stories will feature one or more STEM topics narrated from the youth’s own agrarian/fishing/food production and food preparation perspective and expertise. The youth-directed science video stories will explore research involving plant genetics and a wide range of agricultural technology, including gene editing, automation in phenotyping and genetic analyses, robotics, and aquaculture to develop climate resilience food crops for farmers and shellfish for fishers. Additionally, innovative greenhouse designs and indoor food cultivation techniques will be explored. These stories, once complete, will be shared with their communities and beyond. The project is led by Distinguished Professor Jim Simon in collaboration with Rutgers co-principal investigators Dena Seidel, science communication researcher, Marissa Staffen,  4-H agent, RCE of Essex County, Xenia Morin, associate teaching professor at SEBS, and Oscar Schofield, Distinguished Professor and chair, DMCS. Rutgers has partnered with Kerry Vetch and Ellen Iverson at Carlton College’s Science Education Resource Center (SERC) for program evaluation. This funding highlights the four pillars of Rutgers-New Brunswick Academic Master Plan: community engagement, innovative research, student success and scholarly leadership. –Rutgers University Full article at Morning AgClips