易胜博官网

Living on an island has a way of bringing clean water concerns to the fore. This summer, five undergraduates hailing from Puerto Rico and the island nation of Mauritius are turning their homegrown passion for water quality into scientific research that will help propel their young careers.

The students are taking a deeper dive into aquatic research at 易胜博官网 as part of an eight-week internship co-sponsored by the and the .

鈥淭he internship program is bringing students from communities underrepresented in the sciences and engineering to 易胜博官网 to work side-by-side with faculty and students on cutting edge research鈥� says Nancy Kinner, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director for the 易胜博官网 CRRC. 鈥淥ur goal is to expose the interns to the value of pursuing advanced degrees and exciting career options. In addition, members of our 易胜博官网 family have experienced new cultural and academic perspectives.鈥�

Kinner serves as an advisor to three of the students, while Kai Ziervogel, associate research professor of ocean biogeochemistry, and Tracy Mandel, assistant professor of mechanical and ocean engineering, serve as advisors for the remaining two students.

The students are conducting their own mini research projects on topics like measuring oil slick thickness, studying how oil moves underneath ice, examining the impacts of marine snow on the fate of oil spills on the ocean and estimating the rate of microplastics settling in the ocean. They will present their research findings at the McNair Scholars Research Symposium on July 28.

The five students have varying degrees of prior experience in research 鈥� some have never been exposed to it, while others have a few projects already under their belts. Astrid Zapata, a senior at the University of Puerto Rico 鈥� Mayaguez who is conducting microplastics research with Ziervogel this summer, notes that the scientific process is not always easy. 鈥淚 think research is supposed to be a challenge in which you can learn, analyze and repeat,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 would say my experience doing research has been amazing and valuable. Frustration is a variable that is always present, but one that is totally necessary to learn and grow in any field.鈥�

Early in the summer, the students had the unique opportunity to interact with chief scientists from the EPA and NOAA鈥檚 Office of Response and Restoration (ORR)听as they assisted in conducting some of the experiments alongside the students. 鈥淥RR values being able to engage with our next generation of engineers and scientists through this 易胜博官网 summer diversity internship program,鈥� says Lisa Dipinto, ORR鈥檚 chief scientist. 鈥淲e hope to continue with opportunities to attract and engage with these bright undergraduate students.鈥�

Mauritius citizen Melanie Kistnasamy, a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Paul, Minnesota, cites this interaction with scientists, including Dipinto, as the most important part of the internship experience. 鈥淚t allowed me to develop my communication skills and make valuable connections,鈥� she says.

Outside of their labs, the five students have taken part in organized social and cultural activities with the students from the McNair Scholars Program, thus fostering a sense of camaraderie and offering a much-needed break from the rigorous research schedule.

"My mindset about graduate school has changed for the better since I came to 易胜博官网 and have seen all the research, collaborations听and growth that is involved."听

Kathy Mandsager, the administrative manager for the CRRC, has been instrumental in setting up the internship听logistics and ensuring the program runs smoothly. She hopes that this experience has opened the students鈥� eyes to the possibility of going to graduate school to study science听or perhaps to work with federal agencies like NOAA.

The students are indeed taking these options into consideration, in part due to their positive experience at 易胜博官网. Erick Negron, a senior at the University of Puerto Rico 鈥� Mayaguez, says he feels that he has a more solid understanding of science and would like to apply that knowledge to search for possible solutions for environmental crises. 鈥淢y mindset about graduate school has changed for the better since I came to 易胜博官网 and have seen all the research, collaborations and growth that is involved,鈥� he explains.

鈥淚 think the most important part of this internship experience has been the close interaction with scientists and people who were once students like us, because it made me realize that it鈥檚 possible to achieve higher levels in the science fields,鈥� adds Zapata. 鈥淚鈥檝e also loved seeing so many women as scientists, directors, faculty and students in this science field 鈥� it鈥檚 impressive, important and necessary.鈥�

The听听is 易胜博官网's largest research enterprise, comprising six centers with a focus on interdisciplinary, high-impact research on Earth and climate systems, space science, the marine environment, seafloor mapping听and environmental acoustics. With more than $60 million in external funding secured annually, EOS fosters an intellectual and scientific environment that advances visionary scholarship and leadership in world-class research and graduate education.