Center highlights: Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II

January 2024 highlights

Highlights from the Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II

Fall 2023 CCME II graduates included Summer (Martinez) Crescent (M.S. in biology – Florida A&M University), Miles Jordan (B.S. in environmental science – Florida A&M University), and Dr. Anthony Lima (Ph.D. in coastal and marine system science – Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi). Summer Crescent began an ORISE Fellowship with the NOAA National Ocean Science at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. CCME II undergraduate scholar Jose Cisneros completed the Ocean Exploration Trust  E/V Nautilus seafloor mapping internship. CCME II graduate scholars from Jackson State University (Kambrial Love, Dwan Jackson, and Reneisha Sweet) participated in a NOAA SEAMAPP Groundfish Survey between Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Galveston, Texas. CCME II released its quarterly newsletter in December that includes center highlights, presentations, student testimonials, and alumni updates. Center alumna Evelyn Roozee and faculty Owen Temby, Ph.D., recently published a peer-reviewed article in Marine Policy entitled, “Managing inter-organizational trust and risk perceptions in transboundary fisheries governance networks.” The newsletter also features research and media content related to coastal and marine ecosystems. From August to December, the center welcomed two bachelor’s, eight master’s, and four doctoral students scholars studying NOAA mission-aligned disciplines.

October 2023 highlights

Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II (CCME II) hosts Center Wide Core Competency Course

A group of people in matching blue shirts with CCME logos pose in front of a large, docked vessel.
Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II scholars and NOAA staff participate in a Center-Wide Core Competency Course at the Florida Institute of Oceanography. (Image credit: Vern Shurtz)

CCME II hosted its Center Wide Core Competency Course (CWCC) in July, 2023 at the Florida Institute of Oceanography in St. Petersburg, Florida. The CWCC is a biennial event during which students learn about NOAA focus areas and the cross-cutting theme of social science. Students participated in a problem-based learning activity, a citizen science (HabScope) demonstration, and a field sampling cruise. They also networked with NOAA staff and learned about potential careers.

This event and engaged personnel from across NOAA, including EPP/MSI Program, NOAA CCME-II Technical Advisor, John Cortinas, Ph.D, and co-Technical Monitors (Lonnie Gonsalves. Ph.D. and Chris Kelbe, Ph.D.) as well as representatives from the National Ocean Service (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science), NOAA Research (Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and Office of Research Transition and Application), NOAA Fisheries (Southeast Fisheries Science Center), and Office of Marine Aviation Operations. 

Read more in the CCME II newsletter and NOAA Office of Research, Transition, and Application’s article about CWCC.

Other CCME Spotlights

  • Several CCME II summer graduates continued their education or transitioned into the NOAA workforce. This includes five new graduates (1 Ph.D., 3 M.S., and 1 B.S.); Three are beginning a graduate program, one is entering the NOAA workforce, and another is starting a job in the private sector.
  • Five undergraduates completed internships. Three graduate students completed NERTO graduate internships and six students have started NERTOs.
  • CNN en Espanol featured a CCME faculty member discussing warming ocean currents; 

More highlights and publications can be found in the quarterly newsletter