[scholarship]: NOAA Hollings Scholarship (deadline 1/31)

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, or technology, and supportive of the purposes of NOAA’s programs and mission. Over 100 students are selected each year for participation in the Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) and Educational Partnership Program (EPP) scholarship programs. These scholarships include support for two years of undergraduate study and summer internship opportunities at NOAAfacilities across the country.

For information on program benefits and how to apply, visit our web sites:

o   Application Deadline:  January 31, 2017

o   Application Deadline: January 31, 2017

Eligibility Requirements:

  • US Citizen
  • 3.0 GPA (Hollings) or 3.2 GPA (EPP)
  • Full-time second year student at an accredited four-year undergraduate program or third year student at a five-year undergraduate program
  • Majoring in NOAA mission disciplines, including but not limited to: atmospheric science, biology, cartography, chemistry, computer science, education, engineering, environmental science, geodesy, geography, marine science, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physical science, photogrammetry, physics, etc.
  • Enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution (EPPScholarship only)

For further information, contact the Office of Education Scholarship Programs at: StudentScholarshipPrograms@noaa.gov or (301) 628-2913.

[Tide Bites] Sketching Science in the San Juans

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This article comes from “Tide Bites”, the monthly newsletter of UW Friday Harbor Laboratories. “Sketching Science in the San Juans”, by Andrea Dingeldein: Read the full article at the FHL website.

Andrea Dingeldein, 2016
A collection of interpretive panel illustrations for the Fernald Lab tank, Friday Harbor Laboratories. Created using a combination of watercolor, gouache, and digital media.

…You may be wondering how someone like me finds herself in the position to pursue a career in science illustration. I can tell you there is no one clear-cut path. All science illustrators have their own unique stories of how they arrived at this dual-disciplined field, but we also have one thing in common. We all share a love and appreciation for nature and a passion for capturing and sharing that with other people. I always found myself torn between art and science: I double-majored in studio art and marine biology at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington for my undergraduate degree, and then went on to obtain my M.S. in marine biology. During my master’s, I discovered that I was more skilled at creating illustrations to communicate my research than I was at carrying out data collection and interpretation. Therefore, following my master’s, I found my way into the Science Illustration Graduate Certificate Program at California State University, Monterey Bay. The program’s curriculum places emphasis on creating illustrations that are scientifically accurate and also organized in a way that makes the information contained within them highly accessible to the public. After completing nine months of coursework, students are required to pursue a ten-week internship in the field of science illustration. Having previously attended classes at Friday Harbor Laboratories as an undergraduate, I was aware of FHL’s tradition of using of art in the classroom as a tool to teach science (a method that has unfortunately been forgotten at many scientific research institutions). Because of this strong connection between art and science at the Labs, I was convinced that FHL would be the perfect host institution for a science illustration internship.

[Read the full story at FHL Tide Bites #41]

[UW Today]: Arctic sea ice loss impacts beluga whale migration

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from UW Today, January 5, 2017:

Kate Stafford/University of Washington
A beluga whale surfaces for air.

The annual migration of some beluga whales in Alaska is altered by sea ice changes in the Arctic, while other belugas do not appear to be affected.

A new study led by the University of Washington finds that as Arctic sea ice takes longer to freeze up each fall due to climate change, one population of belugas mirrors that timing and delays its migration south by up to one month. In contrast, a different beluga population, also in Alaska, that migrates and feeds in the same areas doesn’t appear to have changed its migration timing with changes in sea ice.

The paper was published Dec. 21 in the journal Global Change Biology.

“The biggest take-home message is that belugas can respond relatively quickly to their changing environment, yet we can’t expect a uniform response across all beluga populations,” said lead author Donna Hauser, a postdoctoral researcher at the UW’s Polar Science Center.

“If we’re trying to understand how these species are going to respond to climate change, we should expect to see variability in the response across populations and across time,” Hauser said. “That may complicate our predictions for the future.”

Two genetically distinct beluga populations spend winters in the Bering Sea, then swim north in the early summer as sea ice melts and open water allows them passage into the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. There they feast all summer on fish and invertebrates before traveling back south in the fall. Other research suggests the whales are taught by their mothers when to migrate and which route to take, so it was unclear if belugas would be responsive to sea ice changes.

[Read the full article at UW Today]

Related

Assistant Professor Kristin Laidre teaches the FISH 464: Arctic Marine Ecology course every two years (winter, odd years) through the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. This course can be applied towards a minor in marine biology.

Friday Harbor Labs Info Session 1/17

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Friday Harbor Labs Info Session: Spring/Summer Quarter 2017

Spend spring or summer quarter studying at the UW’s marine field station in the San Juan Islands. Get started by attending the following info session:

INFO SESSION: Spring and Summer Quarter at Friday Harbor

When: Tuesday 1/17, 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Where: Marine Sciences Building Room 123

RSVP: https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/jkob/320432

Learn more about what spending a quarter studying full time in the San Juan Islands can mean for you. Courses are available for students starting their exploration of marine biology up to senior undergraduates. Meet some of our teaching faculty and learn how to apply and fund your quarter at ‘FHL’.

FHL anemone

Why Study at Friday Harbor Labs?

  •      Explore the marine environment of the Salish Sea where your classroom is a marine preserve, and the boats are just steps away from your dorm.
  •      Fall courses for students at all levels and majors: intro marine biology, creative writing, environmental literature, and oceanography are just some of the topics.
  •      Get to know your teachers with class sizes frequently less than 20 students.

View of FHL from the water

Explore FHL

WATCH

“A Very Sticky Fish”: award winning video created by autumn 2015 students in the FHL 305: Biology of Fishes course.

Student profile of Susan Harris (’15) and her experience with FHL

READ

Working and Living at Friday Harbor Labs

Information about the town of Friday Harbor

Spring 2017 course list

Summer 2017 course list

TALK

UW Marine Biology Adviser: Joe Kobayashi: jkob@uw.edu

Friday Harbor Labs Adviser: Stacy Markman: fhladmin@uw.edu

Courses may be applied to a Minor in Marine Biology. Check with your major adviser to see if they can apply to your major.

Application deadline for spring quarter is February 1.

 

[UW Today] Underwater volcano’s eruption captured in exquisite detail by seafloor observatory

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The cracking, bulging and shaking from the eruption of a mile-high volcano where two tectonic plates separate has been captured in more detail than ever before. A University of Washington study published this week shows how the volcano behaved during its spring 2015 eruption, revealing new clues about the behavior of volcanoes where two ocean plates are moving apart.

University of Washington/OOI-NSF/CSSF-ROPOS
A seismometer (long black cylinder, right) installed in 2013 atop Axial Volcano. The green plate transmits real-time data to the orange cable and then back to shore as part of the National Science Foundation’s Ocean Observatories Initiative.

“The new network allowed us to see in incredible detail where the faults are, and which were active during the eruption,” said lead author William Wilcock, a UW professor of oceanography. The new paper in Science is one of three studies published together that provide the first formal analyses of the seismic vibrations, seafloor movements and rock created during an April 2015 eruption off the Oregon coast. “We have a new understanding of the behavior of caldera dynamics that can be applied to other volcanoes all over the world.”

The studies are based on data collected by the Cabled Array, a National Science Foundation-funded project that brings electrical power and internet to the seafloor. The observatory, completed just months before the eruption, provides new tools to understand one of the test sites for understanding Earth’s volcanism.

[Read the full story at UW Today]

Seattle Aquarium 2017 spring/summer job opportunities

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2017 spring/summer job opportunities

As the region’s premier resource for hands-on marine science experiences and conservation education, the Seattle Aquarium offers fun, exciting ways to discover more about amazing Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean. Join us in our mission: Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.

The Seattle Aquarium’s conservation and education department is hiring seasonal positions for spring and summer 2017. Multiple positions are available, working with a variety of audiences: school groups, the general public on local beaches, and summer camp participants.

The conservation and education department focuses on providing valuable, inclusive, innovative and entertaining experiences for our audiences. If you are excited about engaging diverse audiences in order to inspire conservation of our marine environment,we want to talk to you!

We are accepting applications for the following part-time, temporary positions:

  • Beach captain (60–80 hours average, February–November)
  • Camp counselor (435 hours average, June–August)
  • Camp lead instructor (475 hours average, June–August)
  • Camp operations lead (530 hours average, June–August)
  • Citizen science instructor (170 hours average, February–June)
  • Greeter/ticket taker (400 hours average, April–early September)
  • Marine science instructor (250 hours average, February–June)

To apply: To view all open job descriptions and application instructions, visit SeattleAquarium.org/jobs.

Application deadlines vary from as early as December 30, 2016 to “open until filled.”
Visit our job board to read specific application deadlines and instructions.

The Seattle Aquarium is a progressive, equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce. All candidates are encouraged to apply.

Shoals Marine Lab Summer Courses

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Study marine science this summer on an Island Campus!

Undergraduate Courses

Gain hands-on field experience during 1-week and 2-week courses at the Shoals Marine Laboratory!

  • Marine Ecology
  • Field Oceanography
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Sustainable Fisheries
  • Underwater Research
  • Animal Behavior
  • Ornithology
  • Engineering
  • Marine Invertebrates
    …and more!

Register for 4 courses in one summer and join the new
Shoals Semester Program, a full semester of credits!

Shoals Research Apprenticeship

Combine SML’s Investigative Marine Biology Laboratory
course with a 2-week Shoals Research Apprenticeship
to conduct your own independent research project. Build
your resume for future research internships.

Scholarships Available

Need-based scholarships are available for undergraduate
students who apply! SML also offers paid student jobs to
offset tuition costs.

Paid Research Internships

Apply for paid research internships at SML. Live and work
on the island for 2-10 weeks with mentoring from faculty
and scientists. Join an active community of researchers!

www.shoalsmarinelaboratory.org

Shoals Marine Laboratory is operated jointly by the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.
shoals.lab@unh.edu
(603) 862-5346

[UW Health Sciences NewsBeat] Tiny zebrafish makes a big research splash

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Zebrafish studies are contributing knowledge in many medical areas, including cancer, hearing loss, infectious diseases and regenerative medicine.
AFIN and Oregon Zebrafish Laboratories
Zebrafish studies are contributing knowledge in many medical areas, including cancer, hearing loss, infectious diseases and regenerative medicine.

It measures one-inch long. It can heal its heart and regrow some amputated parts. It shares nearly three quarters of our genetic code and reproduces at rates that would make a rabbit blush.

It’s teaching landlubbers an extraordinary amount about what can go wrong inside our bodies.

Meet the tiny zebrafish. Once upon a time, this striped tropical fish mostly swam in aquariums in homes and offices. Since the 1990s, a growing number of scientists have embraced zebrafish as a powerful model to study disease. They’re cheap, spawn by the hundreds, and develop outside their mothers’ bodies. They’re the live fish equivalent of The Visible Man see-through anatomical model.

No wonder the National Institutes of Health recently analyzed grant data and found a 60 percent jump in studies of zebrafish over the past seven years.

Across the UW Health Sciences, 15 principal investigators use zebrafish to study everything from vision and hearing loss to cancer and toxicology. They’re a chummy bunch who meet regularly to discuss current research. The Fish Club is passionate about their tiny subjects. Dr. Susan Brockerhoff, who studies retinal diseases, has been to known use “Zebra Eye” as an online username.

“Once you work with zebrafish, you realize how amazing they are,” said Dr. Eleanor Chen, assistant professor of pathology. She first worked with them in grad school, where their transparency appealed to her as a former art student. Researchers like Chen can easily observe what happens during embryonic development: cells sliding around, organs forming, hearts beginning to beat.

[Read the full story at UW Health Sciences NewsBeat]

Space & Scholarships Available for SEA Semester Study Abroad in spring 2017

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SEA semester logo

Greetings from Woods Hole! I’m writing to let you know that space is still available for our late spring SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity & Conservation program, March 20 – June 17, 2017.

Given that your institution is on a trimester or quarter calendar, there may still be time for your students to consider spending a term off campus with us. Automatic $2,500 scholarships are available in addition to our standing $2,500 trimester/quarter award!

As a reminder, this program is an integrated upper-level science semester that applies modern biodiversity research to place-based resource management in the coastal and open ocean. Students will conduct authentic biodiversity and policy research that contributes directly to the international effort to protect the Sargasso Sea. They will then present their research findings and policy recommendations to a panel of invited experts as part of a formal, professional symposium.

If you know of a science major looking for an intensive, field-based experience this spring, please encourage them to learn more by visiting the program page. This program carries 18 transferable credits from Boston University.

Prerequisites apply: Students must have taken at least three lab science courses (one at 300-level or higher) or received permission from SEA faculty.

[scholarship]: Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

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waoppscholarship

Scholarships Up to $22,500 for STEM & Health Care Majors

Application Opens January 3, 2017

We are excited to announce that the online application for the 2017-2018 Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) will be available on our website soon!

We will select 1850 new students to receive funding and additional professional development support and industry exploration opportunities. We need your help in encouraging every eligible student in Washington to apply!

A Few Scholarship Details:

WSOS supports low- and middle-income students pursuing eligible high-demand majors in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and health care and encourages recipients to work in Washington state once they complete their degrees. Students must meet additional eligibility criteria.

  • Annual award amount: $2,500 – $7,500 depending on class standing
  • Renewable for up to five years based on credits completed and continued eligibility
  • Recipients receive access to additional workshops, events and exclusive support programs

The application will be available on the WSOS website on January 3, 2017, with a deadline of February 28, 2017.

view eligibility information & application