Aboard GSO, Spring 2023
2022
It is reported that, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, GSO received $30.1 million in research funding—roughly half of that total ($14.6 million) is the annual incremental funding to the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI).
The 30th anniversary of an ongoing project directed by GSO professor Tom Rossby, with co-PIs Charlie Flagg (Stony Brook U.) and Sandy Fontana is observed. The freighter Oleander has been carrying an acoustic Doppler profiler on board to profile currents while underway.
The USAID Fish Right Program, a Coastal Resources Center project, receives a special visit from U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris, who was visiting the Philippines on a three-day tour to reinforce relations with the archipelagic nation of more than 100 million people.
After a 9,000-mile journey across the Atlantic, the miniboat Inspiration—built by students from the Central Falls School District and GSO graduate students and staff, and launched from R/V Endeavor in March—makes landfall in the United Kingdom.
In a JEDI professional development seminar, Dr. Kate Mulvaney, Dr. Michaela Cashman, and Dr. Kaytee Canfield of the EPA lead a discussion of environmental justice and water research. The seminars aim to provide professional development for students, faculty, and staff around the topics of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the ocean sciences.
A barred owl takes up residence on the Bay Campus and is spotted perched in curious locations, such as the south side of Horn Laboratories.
2023
Recipient of 2022’s URI Distinguished Achievement Award, Catlina Martinez, ’97, M.S. ’00, M.M.A. ’02, M.B.A.’14, equity advisor at NOAA Ocean Exploration, presents “Navigating a Sea of Options, Opportunities, and Obstacles: My Circuitous Journey to a Career in Ocean Science” in which she discusses her non-traditional career trajectory, and shared insights associated with the barriers and challenges to entry, persistence, advancement and success for people from marginalized and minoritized backgrounds in STEM.
R/V Endeavor’s visit to Senesco Shipyard continues as a host of winter maintenance tasks prepare her for another year of ocean-research missions.
In “Confronting Ocean Pollution,” an installment in the GSO Public Lecture Series, GSO professors J.P. Walsh and Rainer Lohmann discuss the dangers posed by marine pollution and “forever chemicals,” called PFAS, and what can be done to address them.
URI President Marc B. Parlange delivers the State of the University Address and discusses the University’s new, 10-year strategic plan with the audience.
“Oceans Tell Stories Through People,” an installment in the GSO Public Lecture Series, delivers interconnected narratives through an evening of art, music, imagery and storytelling. It immerses the audience in a series of narratives that recenter identity and emotion in our understanding of the world’s ocean, told from a place of maritime culture, deep personal connection, perseverance, hope and concern.
In the online roundtable discussion “Robots, Drones and AUVs in Ocean Science,” Drs. Martha McConnell and Art Spivack pose specific questions to professors Jaime Palter and Chris Roman about their ongoing work.
It is reported that, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, GSO received $10.5 million in research funding. In addition, researchers submitted and/or participated in almost $6 million in proposals during this quarter.
The JEDI Professional Development Seminar Series covers “Developing Codes of Conduct” and discusses the value and process of developing Codes of Conduct from the laboratory to institutional level.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening is held for the new Student and Wellness Center in what had been the Aquarium Annex. Renovations and refurbishments give students a dedicated, on-campus space for downtime, activities and study.
To celebrate Black History Month, the Bay Campus community gathers at the Mosby Center for an evening of music, art, story-telling and traditional African American food.
“Teamwork in Academics” is the second installment of the Spring Lecture Series—developed especially for those who work and study on the Bay Campus. Thorr Bjorn, URI’s Director of Athletics, and several URI coaches discuss leadership, motivating students and working within a team environment.
In “Ethics in Science,” for the Spring Lecture Series, Kelly Kryc, M.S. ’98, NOAA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, explores the importance of scientific integrity and ethics at the nexus of policy, politics and decision making in the federal government.
Elizabeth Mendenhall, URI Assistant Professor of Marine Affairs, gives the lecture: “What does the new ocean treaty mean for marine scientific research?” She discusses the new international treaty to govern Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and reviews the basics, focusing on the requirements, opportunities and critical needs for marine scientific research.
The last of the concrete is poured for the new pier. Punch list items will be completed in the spring and summer, while the new seawater pump house is finished. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 5.
“Ocean View” is presented by by GSO and the Professional Studies Arts and Culture Program at URI’s Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education. The exhibit includes artworks in all media from 25 area professional artists and a youth art competition by K-12 students. It explores our many personal connections to the ocean.