Hi! My name is Caroline Capone, and I’m a 2021 NOAA Hollings scholar studying communications and international relations with a minor in environmental sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This summer, I had the opportunity to work with NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Education & Outreach Office in Santa Cruz, California.
In Santa Cruz, I communicated messages of ocean literacy, conservation, and protection through graphics, posters, videos, in-person events, and social media posts! I worked with a leading team of scientists, educators, and multimedia producers to create and share content in a way that effectively streamlined complex science topics.
The highlight of my summer was organizing Day on the Beach offsite link, an annual event aimed at providing people with mental and physical disabilities immersive experiences in Monterey Bay. Organizing the event involved weeks of planning and numerous meetings with stakeholders such as Shared Adventures offsite link, the City of Santa Cruz, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. During this 400+ person event, I spoke about the wonders of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, having discussions with beach-goers on the importance of protecting the sanctuary, its aquatic creatures, and natural features.
With this internship, I built upon my communication and media skills, learning the art of synthesizing complex marine science into engaging content and campaigns, as well as the ins and outs of organizing a large community outreach event. Adding to this experience, I was able to share my knowledge of the ocean and NOAA’s mission of conservation and protection of our natural resources in an interview with the local Santa Cruz TV News! The NOAA Hollings Scholarship is a great opportunity, and I invite everyone eligible to apply!
Caroline Capone is a 2021 Hollings scholar and communications and international relations major with a minor in environmental sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
