2010 Graduate Student Colloquium – September 24-25

The Marine Biology Graduate Student Colloquium is scheduled for September 24-25, 2010. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Win Watson from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Watson’s studies include neurophysiology, ecology and behavior of marine organisms. His keynote address will take place on Friday, September 24 followed by a poster session and social. Student oral presentations will take place on Saturday, September 25 followed by Dr. Watson’s closing address. Additionally on Saturday, there will be a Colloquium Social featuring Lowcountry Boil held at the Outdoor Classroom during which the new students will be introduced. Many graduate students in Marine Biology will be presenting their research. The 2010 Marine Biology Graduate Student Colloquium will showcase the student’s hard work and dedication to the marine science field. Please join us in supporting the students and the exciting research conducted in the Fort Johnson community. Follow the 2010 Colloquium link above for a detailed event schedule and to preview the poster and presentation abstracts. See your institutional representative for sign-up and payment for the Saturday evening social.

Fourth Annual George Grice, Jr. Lecture

This lecture series is sponsored by Dr. George Grice III in memory of his father, Dr. George Grice, Jr. He was a well-known marine biologist who dedicated his life to the study of marine biology. Dr. Grice spent most of his career at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The laboratory was named in honor of the 14th president of the College, Dr. George D. Grice, the father of George D. Grice, Jr and grandfather of the sponsor.

This year the seminar was given on Friday, March 19th in the MRRI auditorium. The speaker was Richard Satterlie. from University of North Carolina Wilmington. The title of the lecture was Neural Control of Jellyfish Swimming: A Tale of Two Georges. In addition to being an accomplished researcher, Dr. Satterlie is also an accomplished novelist. There was a lovely reception for the speaker after the seminar.

Shelly Brew Nominated for the ExCEL Outstanding Staff Member Award

webbrewShelly Brew was nominated as an Outstanding Staff Member for the 2010 Excellence in Collegiate Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Awards. These awards honor students, faculty, staff who promote diversity and excellence on the college campus. Shelly has been the Administrative Assistant for the Grice Marine Laboratory and the Graduate Program in Marine Biology since 2000. Her favorite part about her job is interacting with the students.

Dr. Holland Receives the 2009 Environmental Awareness Award

GPMB adjunct faculty member, Dr. A. Frederick Holland, received the 2009 Environmental Awareness Award on Wednesday, March 31, 2009.  Mr. Scott English, Governor Mark Sanford’s Chief of Staff, presented the award on the Governor’s behalf at the Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center. This award recognized Dr. Holland’s  outstanding contributions toward the protection, conservation and improvement of the state’s coastal environment.  Fred Holland was the director of the Marine Resources Research Institute (SCDNR) before he became the director of the Hollings Marine Laboratory (NOAA) in 2001.  During his presentation, Mr. English said, “Fred Holland is not just a steward of natural resources in South Carolina, he is a pioneer and in some cases, a national trend-setter for protecting and preserving our coastal resources. Fred’s legacy is important for two reasons. He has been able to translate in-depth scientific research for policymakers and the average person in making decisions that affect our communities. At the same time, he has mentored a new generation of marine scientists who will carry on his work in marine sciences.”

GPMB Student Featured in the College of Charleston Magazine

Marine biology graduate student, David Shiffman, published an article titled ‘”A Sea Change” in the Point of View section of the College of Charleston magazine. In this article David discusses how his passion for sharks led him to pursue a career in marine biology. In addition to his research, David writes about shark biology and conservation in the blog Southern Fried Science. Many species of sharks are threatened from the results of by-catch and overfishing. David hopes to educate the public on the value of sharks in his upcoming book titled Why Sharks Matter: The Ecological and Economic Importance of Sharks, Threats They Face, and How You Can Help.