If you’re interested in having a member spotlight for your research, trip or internship just e-mail marinesciencesocietypsu@gmail.com!
2022:
Officers Andy and Evan had the opportunity to go on the Biology 499A study abroad trip to Costa Rica over this past winter break. While there they hiked, snorkeled, and kayaked throughout the country. Over the course of two weeks, they researched a variety of aquatic and beach – based animals, such as hermit crabs and clams. They were also able to see wildlife such as white faced monkeys, Peccaries, cat eye snakes, sea turtles, white tipped sharks and more!
2020:
Jake Snyder
Jake Snyder is the MSS secretary and has done a lot of amazing work on campus. He is a Freshman studying Marine Ecology or Comparative Medicine with Marine Model Systems. Read more about his work down below!
“Hi! My name is Jake Snyder, and I work in Dr. Mónica Medina’s Lab! In lab, I hatch artemia (brine shrimp), clean the tanks of Cassiopea xamachana (upside-down jellyfish) polyps, feed the jellyfish and photograph them. Currently, I am examining sexual determination in Cassiopea by recording the sexes of ephyra!”
Megan Creelman
Read a little bit about her down below!
Megan is earning her major in biology, as well as minors in marine science and French. After her undergraduate career, she intends to pursue a job in marine conservation. In her free time she visits Aquariums, and her favorite is the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ! She recently embarked on a week-long sailing trip in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on the SVV Corwith Cramer research vessel. While on board, she collected samples of microorganisms and analyzed physical factors contributing to zooplankton diversity.
Grace Kimzey
Grace is a junior meteorology major! Read about everything she has done to help conserve the oceans below!
“My name is Grace Kimzey and I’ve done a few things to pursue my love for the ocean. I was a volunteer water testing intern at the Lakes Environmental Association in Bridgeton, Maine. I’ve snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef and participated in the reef recovery and restoration training program. I love to Scuba Dive! I got my basic certification in Crystal River, Florida; my advanced certification in Key West, Florida; and my rescue diver certification in Belize, where I also spent a week doing ocean conservation work. For instance, I learned to spear invasive lionfish!”
Brianna Stephans
Brianna Stephans is a member who visited Lowcountry in South Carolina! Read below to see what she was involved in during her trip!
“For the first part of the trip, we camped next to an estuary. What was neat about staying there was that during low tide it would reveal what was called “pluff mud” & you could hear the “breathing” from the mud (if you listen closely) due to the amount of bacteria gas exchanging in it. For the last two days I stayed on a barrier island where I got to see lots of marine life such as dolphins, starfish, sand dollars, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers & jellyfish. We also got to visit a forest bone yard on one of the barrier islands, which is when the ocean tide sweeps away so much of the soil from the island that it reaches the forest and kills the trees because of the salt water.”
