Research fellow: Alison Fisher
Hometown: Pinckney, MI
Major: Biology; Writing and Rhetoric
School: University of Rhode Island
Faculty mentor: Caroline Gottschalk Druschke
Project: Science communication outreach about coastal storm impacts in national parks

For Alison Fisher, the Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program has worked exactly as intended.

Set to graduate in May 2016, Fisher is spending her 10-week SURF experience in the SEAcomm lab of SURF mentor Caroline Gottschalk Druschke, assistant professor, writing and rhetoric, helping develop National Park Service (NPS) social media content and outreach materials.

“Mostly, I’ve learned that this is what I want to do for a living,” said Fisher, who will earn a BS in biology and a BA in writing and rhetoric. “Science communication is a growing field, and there are a lot of opportunities. I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do. It’s nice to find my niche.”

The SURF program offers Rhode Island undergraduates an opportunity for intensified summer research under the guidance of faculty mentors, providing deeper involvement in the science and advancing technical and cognitive skills. The experience has given Fisher the chance to delve into her area of interest and define a clearer picture of her career path.

Some of her efforts have focused on writing briefs about the progress of Hurricane Sandy restoration projects at three national parks — Fire Island National Seashore, NY; Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ; and Assateague Island National Seashore, MD. Once approved, the briefs (similar to earlier posts by other writers) will be posted on the NPS web page.The intention is to inform the public about the projects and how restoration funds have been spent.

A class Fisher took last fall on writing for community service with Druschke led to the SURF communication project, with her biology major creating a natural fit. Fisher said she has found her science background especially helpful in conveying the impact of Sandy, considered the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 season, and explaining the monitoring and mapping of salt marsh areas.

Fisher also served as an intern last spring with the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting, which is part of the URI Office of Marine Programs and is based at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography.

Story and photo by Amy Dunkle