Gas bubbles 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt that are being used to improve water quality. The escalating battle between seagrass and pathogens, with each side constantly evolving new strategies of attack or defense. Proteins in the salivary glands of squid that can paralyze crabs. These were a few of the exciting topics covered at the biennial North Florida Marine Science Symposium (NFMSS), held at the UF Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine on January 23-24. The event brought together 126 students, researchers, practitioners and natural resource managers from 13 organizations to exchange the latest breakthroughs in marine science.
“This symposium is a galvanizing experience for getting everybody interested in marine science to talk together and collaborate,” said Anna Braswell, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (UF SFFGS) and co-organizer of the event. “It really exposes our students and early-career individuals to the great resources that are in this area and the ecosystems that are so important to study and protect.”
Twenty-three students showcased their research during a poster session, ranging from the development of a community science program for dune restoration monitoring to investigating how Swedish fjords store carbon over time. (Photo credit: Megan Sam)
For the 78 students in attendance, the event was a great opportunity to build connections, expand their networks, learn from experts like keynote speaker Randall Hughes, Ph.D., a professor in marine and environmental sciences at Northeastern University, as well as dive into the cutting-edge research that’s happening in the region.
“I am really excited to meet professionals in the field who can tell me about their journey and offer advice for moving forward in my career,” said Abigail Moore, an undergraduate student studying marine biology at the University of Florida. Moore had the opportunity to do just that by participating in the speed mentoring event, a first at this year’s symposium, where professionals from industry, NGOs, natural resource management and academia shared insights into their current roles, career trajectories, and answered questions from students.
Zain Khalid, a graduate student at the UF Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience, expressed his excitement about the symposium’s optimistic outlook and the innovative research presented.
“I love marine science because I can be at the edge of discovery,” said Khalid. “There’s always a sense of excitement and anticipation in the lab. This symposium is displaying fantastic research, and it’s inspiring to gain a hopeful perspective on actions we’re taking to help these ecosystems.”
Hear what our participants had to say:
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By Megan Sam