Accomplishments

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Postsecondary Education Highlights

  • Over 6,700 undergraduate and graduate students trained in NOAA-related sciences.
  • 268 students graduated to date in NOAA core science areas (53 Ph.D., 80 M.S., 4 M.A., 114 B.S., 16 J.D., 1 B.A.) with additional students currently in the pipeline.
  • Over 1,600 students per year complete courses taught by ECSC faculty in NOAA-mission relevant fields at partner institutions.
  • 10 former ECSC students are now NOAA employees (NOS, OAR, NMFS)
  • 23 former ECSC students are now Federal (other than NOAA), state, or local government employees
  • 9 former ECSC students are now Federal (other than NOAA), state, or local employees conducting work/research related to NOAA sciences
  • 17 former ECSC students have joined academia (university and K-12)



Outreach and K-12 Education Highlights

  • A peer-reviewed, post-secondary lecture series in Introductory Oceanography, based on the Ocean Science Concept-driven Interactive (OSCI) teaching model. http://www.aslo.org/lectures/fundamentals.html
  • ‘From Education to Exploration: Students at Sea’ video presented in NOAA’s “Oceans Today” kiosk (a multi-media interactive exhibit that was shown at 15 museums and aquariums around the country including The Smithsonian-Ocean Hall in Washington D.C.)
  • Annual Summer Camps for K-12 teachers and students at FAMU and partner universities.
  • Environmental Awareness poster competitions for elementary and middle school students.
  • Mentoring and training student teams competing in the National Ocean Science Bowl Competitions.



Research and Management Highlights

  • Over 250 peer-reviewed scientific and technical publications in NOAA-related sciences by ECSC faculty and students.
  • Over $90,000,000 in additional grants and contracts leveraged over NOAA EPP base funding.
  • Acquisition of high-resolution aerial and hyper-spectral imagery and development of geospatial databases for 7 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
  • Development of remote sensing tools, computer algorithms, and maps for natural resource management and assessment of changes (due to human activities and natural phenomena such as hurricanes) in estuaries, marshes and coastal waters.
  • Studies of effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including impacts on fish, food webs and the coastal environment.
  • Comprehensive ecological risk assessments addressing effects of sea-level rise and various water management scenarios. A model for Apalachicola bay assessing impacts of these factors on oyster fisheries has been developed.
  • Development and validation of conceptual ecological models of NERR sites to link drivers (anthropogenic or natural activities), stressors (ecological impacts as the results of drivers), and ecological endpoints (important ecological, economic, and/or social factors). These are used to identify future research needs and inform management priorities.
  • Graduate students must include NOAA scientists on their advisory committees to ensure that their research projects align with NOAA interests. Current MS and Ph.D. projects include work on harmful algal blooms, mercury in coastal fish, water quality and nutrient dynamics in estuaries, remote sensing of sea grass beds, ecosystems of barrier islands, conservation plans for threatened fisheries, and legal issues and management outcomes affecting marine resources.



Individual Student Accomplishments

  • Daryl Sibble (FAMU-Ph.D.) selected as a first cohort recipient of the NOAA Educational Partnership Program Graduate Research & Training Scholarship Program. (GRTSP) award. Read more
  • Cindi McGee (FAMU-Law) selected for EPP Ocean Policy Internship. Read more
  • Akida Ferguson (DSU-B.S.) earns summer internship with Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. Read more
  • Patrick Connaly (FAMU-M.S.) awarded NOAA Nautilus Internship
  • Judson Curtis (TAMUCC-Ph.D.) selected for NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Mapping Internship. Read more
  • Michael Nichola (FAMU-J.D.) wins Dean Frank Maloney Environmental Law Writing Competition.
  • Kim Tucker (FAMU-Ph.D.) awarded FlowCAM Grant.
  • Jolvan Morris (FAMU-Ph.D.) awarded the 2012 Thomas E. Bigford Award.



Individual Faculty Accomplishments

  • Dr. Michael Abazinge's appointment to the USDA's Agricultural Air Quality Task Force.
  • Dr. Jennifer Cherrier's selection as a 2013 Leopold Leadership Fellow.
  • Dr. Paul Montagna's receives the 2013 Niering Award from the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF).
  • Dr. John Tunnell's honored as a 2013 Harte's Heroes award recipient.
  • Dr. John Schalles received the 2010 Environmental Educator Achievement Award by Sierra Club's Nebraska Chapter.

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NOAA-ECSC is funded under the NOAA/EPP Cooperative Agreement Award# NA11SEC4810001

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