Empowering students to pursue their interest in marine & environmental science through scientific & professional development training & mentorship. #NSFIncludes
Elisabeth Leerdam, our Program Coordinator from SEAS USVI HUB, shares some thoughts about her experience helping students in STEM and how important this program is in providing opportunities to the USVI communities.
#NSFfunded#USVI#Environmentalscience#Stem
#SEASIslandsAlliance student Ranie Jay Ubaldo is researching #recycled concrete from demolished structures for use as concrete aggregates. Ubaldo and lab mates test and calculate the compressive strength of their permeable #concrete samples in their lab at the University of Guam.
ALT Students mix concrete to form small cylinders in an outdoor shaded area near a fence
ALT A student mixes and weighs a concrete sample in a cup
ALT A machine like a hydraulic press crushes a concrete sample
They took a field trip this summer to use a scanning electron microscope to view the physical properties of their recycled aggregate.
#Research#NSFIncludes#Guam#Engineering
ALT Three concrete cylinder samples after being crushed during a test of their compressive strength
During the weeklong visit, they took a canoe tour of Jug Bay, honed their lab skills with a seine survey at @UMCES Chesapeake Biological Lab, visited the @NatlAquarium, and joined a research cruise with marine scientists.
#NSFIncludes
ALT A group of students dissect fish in a lab
ALT Students in waders hold a seine net in shallow water near a rock jetty
ALT A group of students wearing reflective CBL Research Staff vests walk down a pier over shallow water
Meet Malèyah Navarro, one of our Youth Ocean Explorers in the US Virgin Islands. Youth Ocean Explorers is a hands-on #MarineScience summer program for middle and high school students. Read our interview with Malèyah: loom.ly/TJWu1-8#SEASIslandsAlliance#NSFIncludes
ALT A young scuba diver gives the "OK" sign underwater
ALT A young woman on a boat with scuba diving gear gets ready to get into the water
ALT A young woman in scuba diving gear poses for a selfie in the water
Cyril Concepcion, a Fellow from the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance is working under the mentorship of Ernesto Guedes, Ph.D, to research alternative structural materials used in construction!
Marie Labrando joins NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance Guam Hub as Program Associate. Lifelong islander with a passion for people & science, Labrando brings fresh perspective to fostering student success in marine & environmental sciences. #STEM#Sustainability#UOG#Guam🌱
Mangrove trees grow in coastal waters around the equator, which means they exist across the #SEASIslandsAlliance! #Mangrove forests are home to many species from land and sea, and they help protect coastal communities from extreme weather.
ALT The coastal mangrove forest cleanup site.
ALT A cleanup member holds up a small plastic chair that was found in the mangroves.
Today is the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem! Earlier this year, members of the Grimes Lab in the #USVirginIslands took part in the 2024 Great Mangrove Cleanups in Coral Bay and St. Croix. Lab members and volunteers found some impressive litter!
ALT Six people carry a large, rusted metal beam down the road.
ALT A cleanup coordinator talks to students and volunteers under a canopy.
Meet #SEASIslandsAlliance mentor Maria Fernanda Barberena-Arias! She's a Latina scientist, wife, grandma and mentor. Her professional path has focused on two central topics: studying the role #arthropods play in ecosystems and #mentoring students in nontraditional settings.
ALT A headshot of Maria. She is wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt, a blue and white silk scarf, and glasses.
ALT A selfie of Maria and two students in front of a SEAS Islands Alliance presentation.
Collaborations have impacted Maria Fernanda's professional path, introduced her to wonderful people, and helped her discover aspects that have led to her personal and professional growth.
ALT A photo of Maria and a student holding up the flag of Puerto Rico and an award certificate.
In a recent blog post, Manuel Pérez-Troncoso, a postdoctoral researcher and evaluator with the NSF INCLUDES #SEASIslandsAlliance, discusses the strategy of using "cultural profiles" to map the identity of young islander scientists.
ALT A selfie of Manuel and two other people riding in a covered bus.
ALT A selfie of Manuel and four others standing in front of the doors to an orange building.
ALT A selfie of Manuel and two others standing in an indoor office.
ALT Manuel stands smiling in front of a leafy green tree. He is wearing a white button-down shirt and wearing dark brown glasses.
With inclusivity at its core, Manuel says this strategy allows for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of scientific identities. Read the blog post: loom.ly/4sM9tLw#NSFIncludes#Inclusivity