Former GPMB Graduate Awarded Teaching Honors

Posted on May 15, 2009 by gricemarinelab

A former College of Charleston Marine Biology Masters graduate has received great honors for her work in Charleston County School District. Katherine Lee Metzner-Roop, a teacher at Academic Magnet High School, has been named the South Carolina Academy of Science’s 2009 Teacher of the Year. Metzner-Roop was recently honored in Columbia, SC at the Academy of Science and Junior Academy of Science meeting. Not only has she been named 2009’s Science Teacher of the Year, but she was also named Teacher of the Year (2003-04) at her school as well as the Junior Science Academy Sponsor of the Year (2004-05). She has been making a difference teaching in Charleston County Schools for seventeen years and has been shaping lives at the College of Charleston for nine years. Congratulations Katherine!

GPMB Students Inducted into Sigma Xi

Posted on April 23, 2009 by gricemarinelab

On April 23, 2009, several GPMB Students were inducted into Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, at the annual banquet and awards ceremony. According to Dr. Robert T. Dillon, Jr., “Sigma Xi may be best known here locally as the main sponsor for the annual “Darwin Week” and for sponsoring presentation awards at the annual MUSC Student Research Day, GPMB Student Research Colloquium and the Citadel’s Student Research Presentation Day. The organization provides excellent opportunities for professional networking among scientific institutions in the Charleston area and offers solid evidence of professional involvement for graduate students as they move into the next stage of their careers.”

Student Receives ExCEL Award

Posted on March 31, 2009 by gricemarinelab

The Multicultural ExCEL Awards were established to honor members of the College of Charleston community for their efforts to diversify and improve the campus. The Presidential Legacy Awards are a major part of this annual event and acknowledge the legacy and vision of former presidents of the College of Charleston. Charles Kolo Rathburn was awarded the Leo I. Higdon, Jr. Presidential Legacy Award for Outstanding Leadership on March 31st, 2009. Kolo, a marine biology graduate student, is founder member and presiding President of the College of Charleston Graduate Student Association. He is dedicated and passionate about making CofC and his community a better place for graduate students. Under his leadership the GSA participated in the 3rd annual CofC Dance Marathon which generated over $75,000, almost double the previous years amount, for the Children’s Miracle Network, specifically MUSC Children’s Hospital.

Fulbright Fellow in Australia

Posted on March 6, 2009 by gricemarinelab

Joe Pollack In addition, Dr. Owens also visited Townsville, Australia which is the home of James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Our graduate student Joe Pollock is a Fulbright Fellow at AIMS and James Cook University. Under the guidance of Pam Morris of MUSC, Joe is working to develop tools to accurately diagnose coral diseases on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and around the world. Currently, the diagnostic tools are very limited, so coral diseases are distinguished almost exclusively on their macroscopic appearance. He is focusing his efforts on developing a technique to detect the pathogen responsible for the coral disease White Syndrome on the GBR and coral bleaching in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. His research is progressing well and bioassays are underway to test the tool’s effectiveness in vivo.

29th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium

Posted on February 25, 2009 by gricemarinelab

Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate studies Dave Owens has returned from presenting an invited paper at “An International Symposium : Reproduction of Marine Life” at the world famous Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The Owens paper, with Research Associate Gaëlle Blanvillain as a co-author, was titled “Captive Reproduction of Sea Turtles: An Important Success Story.” He and three CofC graduate students also attended the 29th Annual International Sea Turtle Symposium, held Feburary 17- 19 in Brisbane, Australia. Steven O’Connell (GPMB) and Melissa Bimbi (MES) gave oral presentations, and Jesse Alderson (GPMB) presented a poster.

Dave and Gaëlle examining turtle with ultrasound

Student Research Colloquium

Posted on February 12, 2009 by gricemarinelab

The Student Research Colloquium of the Graduate Program in Marine Biology (GPMB) was established in 1998, with the goals of increasing awareness of research activities by students and faculty affiliated with GPMB; providing graduate students with experience in making scientific presentations; and promoting interactions among faculty and students conducting research in marine biology. Oral and poster sessions, including the Friday social, were held at the Marine Resources Research Institute, Fort Johnson. The Lowcountry Boil on Saturday took place in the outdoor classroom adjacent to the Marshlands House. The poster presenters attended their posters from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and the posters remained on display throughout the Colloquium. Meggie Kent won the award for best oral presentation. Please see the 2009 Colloquium Program for details about the presenters and topics.

An Octoclaus Sighting

Posted on December 13, 2008 by gricemarinelab

If you happened to be on Folly Beach on December 13th, you may have seen a giant blue octopus wearing a red Santa hat and riding on top of a boat. New species? Mutant genes you ask? Turns out it was part of a float entered by GML in the Folly Beach Christmas Parade. Graduate students dressed as sea critters danced around the boat as it was pulled along the parade route and threw candy canes to the delight of the many children. OCTOCLAUS was a huge success, finishing in 2nd place and winning a prestigious trophy and $200 for the Marine Biology GSA. Click here for more photos and video clips.

Grice Marine Laboratory

News and updates from across the harbor

Category Archives: Graduate students