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Maymester & Summer Courses About to Get Underway at UGAMI

kfmcnair on May 9, 2019

Several field courses are set to kick off at UGAMI. Just as most university campuses are winding down for the summer, UGAMI is shifting into overdrive. UGAMI’s research and teaching activities peak in summer. We are excited to meet this year’s students and immerse them in the Sapelo Experience!

A group of people stands and walks along the shoreline at a sandy beach, with gentle waves and cloudy sky in the background.

Maymester courses include Geography of the Georgia Coast, where students will learn about the historical-geography of the Georgia Coast, the ongoing pressures felt through increased development and property politics, community conservation efforts, and sustainable agriculture. Students will be on Sapelo Island for two weeks starting May 19th. Other Maymester courses that visit Sapelo for a shorter period of time are the Georgia Fishes Field Study and the Parks, Environmental Education and Tourism Management Field Camp.

UGAMI hosts three field study programs during summer session. Students in the Coastal Summer Semester spend four weeks at UGAMI. This program introduces students to field techniques in marine ecology and culminates with students undertaking their own research project. Similarly, students in the Colonial and Native Worlds Field School are introduced to archaeological field and lab techniques and the methods and approaches by which archaeology and heritage are interpreted. These students will split their time between Ossabaw and Sapelo Islands. In addition, the Interdisciplinary Field Program, a 10-week traveling course, will spend its first week at UGAMI learning about the ecology and history of Sapelo Island.

Students at UGAMI work hard and play hard, often at the same time. For many students, participating in a field study program at UGAMI is a life-changing experience. For information on all of the undergraduate field study programs available at UGAMI, go to our Education web page.

Former Students Present at UGA’s CURO Symposium

kfmcnair on April 16, 2019

Congratulations to 2018 Coastal Summer Semester students Sadneya Ghag, Danielle Jenkins, and Bailey Reins who presented the results of their independent research at UGA’s CURO Symposium (Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities). The annual CURO Symposium highlights excellence in undergraduate research at the University of Georgia through students’ oral and poster sessions.

A person stands next to a scientific research poster titled Elevation and habitat distribution in the Sapelo Island Maritime Hammock habitat, displayed on a brown bulletin board at the CURO Symposium, showcasing work by former students from UGA. — Sadneya Ghag presented her poster “Elevation and habitat distribution in the Sapelo Island national estuarine research reserve” under the mentorship of Charles Hopkinson.

A woman stands next to a scientific poster titled Seasonal and Diel Calling Patterns of Oyster Toadfish at the CURO Symposium at UGA, with charts and research details visible on the poster. — Danielle Jenkins presented her poster “Seasonal and Diel Calling Patterns of Oyster Toadfish” under the mentorship of Damon Gannon.

A man in a suit stands beside a scientific poster titled Distribution of Spotted Sea Trout and Atlantic Croaker in the Duplin River of Sapelo Island at the CURO Symposium, a UGA research event featuring former students' work. — Bailey Reins presented his poster “Distribution of Spotted Sea Trout and Atlantic Croaker in the Duplin River of Sapelo Island” under the mentorship of Damon Gannon.

UGAMI Feature Article

kfmcnair on March 15, 2019

The history and future of UGAMI is being told as a feature article in UGA Research. Click below to check it out!

https://ugaresearch.uga.edu/coastal-renewal/?fbclid=IwAR2mpzxFToW_k7oplidTPZsmj5tqbeKBD2NIIIV6RPsnY_MeBLgkCdF-I6E

The Adventures of Jacob the Technician

kfmcnair on March 5, 2019

Ever wonder what it would be like to work as a field research technician studying coastal ecology? The real-life adventures of “Jacob The Technician” are now chronicled in a comic book. The story was written by Professor Steve Pennings, who is the field director and co-principal investigator of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research program (GCE). The story’s characters have an uncanny resemblance to Jacob Shalack (GCE’s field research coordinator and UGAMI’s assistant director for operations), Dontrece Smith, and Alyssa Peterson (both of whom are field research technicians with the GCE). The comic is part of GCE’s education offerings. Copies will soon be available at the visitor center of the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve in Meridian/Darien, and can be ordered from Steve Pennings (spennings@uh.edu) for $5 each.

Long-Term Ecological Research Grant Renewed

on February 28, 2019

Five people stand and sit on a small boat in open water, possibly conducting fall monitoring, holding long poles and wearing casual outdoor clothing under a clear sky. — A GCE – LTER field research crew at the end of a long day’s work. Photo by Andy Penniman.

The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems – Long Term Ecological Research project (GCE-LTER), a research program based at the UGA Marine Institute, has been renewed by the National Science Foundation for another six years. The GCE-LTER first started in 2000 and will continue investigating long-term change in coastal ecosystems, including the salt marshes surrounding Sapelo Island and the tidal freshwater forests of the Altamaha River estuary. For more on the GCE-LTER, see this article in UGA Today.

GCE Summer Internships – Now Live!

kfmcnair on January 30, 2019

The GCE-LTER is now accepting applications for their 2019 undergraduate summer internships. There are seven projects total with 4 based on Sapelo Island; one in Athens, GA; one in Bloomington, IN; and one in Savannah, GA. GCE will start reviewing applications February 15th; the deadline for all applications is 05:00 PM EST on March 1, 2019.

For more information, please visit http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/employment/summer_internships_2019.asp. Please share with any interested students!

Here we go again…

on December 31, 2018

A familiar occurrence is happening again at UGAMI: another infrastructure improvement project is getting underway. The process begins with the arrival of a barge loaded with equipment and construction materials. Then the workers arrive on the ferry, many of whom are now our old friends; veterans from previous construction projects at UGAMI.

The current project is the second phase of renovations on the Main Lab building, which focuses on the utility systems in the southern half of the Main Lab Building. This phase will significantly upgrade the HVAC, potable water, sewer, and electrical systems. The results may not be immediately obvious to first-time visitors, but lab users who have been coming to UGAMI for a while will surely notice the improvements in indoor air quality & temperature.

There have been many investments made in infrastructure improvements at UGAMI over the past two years, including: installing a new pumping and water distribution system for our seawater labs; creating new outdoor seawater tank facilities; renovating the ground floor of the Main Lab (visitor labs, a shared equipment lab, and a new teaching lab); consolidating the Maintenance Department’s shop facilities; creating a new lab space with fume hoods in what used to be the old electrical shop; renovating the administrative offices and creating a museum exhibit space in the north carriage house building; creating student recreation facilities, housekeeping facilities, a video conference room, and offices in the south carriage house building; and replacing the boat docks in South End Creek and Post Office Creek.

Living amid a major construction project can be inconvenient. But UGAMI users and staff are excited to see the progress taking place. These investments by the University System of Georgia and external funding agencies are proof of the value placed on UGAMI and the work that goes on here.

Large historic building with a red-tiled roof, central clock, cupola, and arched dormers; bicycles parked at the entrance showcase UGAMI's charm while the Main Lab renovation brings new life. Trees and blue sky form a scenic backdrop. — UGAMI’s Main Lab before the renovations. Most of the work in the second phase of the renovation will take place in the wing of the building seen on the left side of the photo.

Two large, damaged metal HVAC units lie on the grass beside a dirt road, with several parked vehicles in the background. — Out with the old, in with the new. These are the old air handlers from the HVAC system in the auditorium and library wing of the Main Lab.

Jacob Shalack earns Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential

on December 20, 2018

UGAMI is proud to announce that Jacob Shalack has earned the Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) credential from APPA. The CEFP credential recognizes leaders in educational facilities management and is a way to validate the unique knowledge and competency required of an accomplished professional in the educational facilities field.

Jacob wears two hats at UGAMI. He splits his time between being UGAMI’s Assistant Director for Operations and the Site Manager for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER. Many of UGAMI’s users only know Jacob in one of these capacities and have no idea that he has another side to his professional life.

By acquiring the core knowledge necessary to obtain the CEFP, Jacob is helping to ensure the long-term stewardship of UGAMI.

Congratulations, Jacob!

Two people wearing sunglasses talk on a boat, with one holding a metal rod and marshland visible in the background. — Jacob Shalack and a student heading out on the water to conduct research on marsh hammocks.

Cornelia Walker Bailey Program Launches Website

kfmcnair on December 10, 2018

Black and white illustration of Cornelia Walker Bailey in front of lush plants, with a quote: “I want us always to have a community on this island.” Perfect for any website announcing a program launch.

The University of Georgia’s Cornelia Walker Bailey Program on Land and Agriculture recently launched their own website. This program focuses on the history, present status, and future of agriculture on Sapelo Island, GA. The program facilitates meaningful partnerships among UGA faculty and students, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Hog Hammock community. It also complements the UGA Marine Institute’s broader educational mission of creating unique experiences of immersion, providing strong mentorship from UGA faculty and community leaders, and encouraging students to engage with real-world problems through UGAMI’s Geography of the Georgia Coast course. The website features important news and publications as well as ways to support the program.

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