Category: news

Since 2015, the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has sponsored an annual volunteer work weekend helping to improve the UGAMI facilities.  Eighteen Whiting-Turner employees and their spouses spent this past weekend on Sapelo Island working side by side with UGAMI staff, Beth Richardson (Friends of UGAMI), and representatives from campus (David Lee, VP for Research; Carl Bergmann, Associate VP for Research; and Gwynne Darden,  Associate VP for Facilities Planning) .  The group painted the interior of the seawater lab, the exterior trim on the Barrier Island Research Lab, and the office of our newly-hired accounting technician, Tina Ridley.  They also pressure washed the exterior walls of the buildings in the main quad and on Saturday afternoon, they held a brainstorming session on infrastructure planning for the UGAMI campus. Thanks to the expertise of the group, which included construction project managers, engineers, and marketing specialists, the brainstorming session yielded many good ideas to consider. As a reward for their hard work, the volunteers enjoyed fantastic meals provided by the kitchen wizards at the Reynolds Mansion and had a beach bonfire on Saturday night.

Everyone at UGAMI thanks Whiting-Turner and the Whiting-Turner employees for all their hard work. You Rock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Jimmy Buffet is almost correct when he sings “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” now it’s only five o’clock twice a day at UGAMI. The 1937 Seth Thomas clock on the front of the Main Lab building had been stopped for many years; its antique gears had worn out and its hands constantly insisted that it was 5:00.  Then one day last year, UGAMI’s assistant director for operations, Jacob Shalack, contacted Elderhorst Bells, Inc., a company in Pennsylvania that manufactures and restores large outdoor clocks, to find out if it would be possible to replace the damaged gears. After exchanging a few emails, the folks at Elderhorst determined that the clock movement (the mechanism that controls the hands) was not original and that the best thing to do was to replace the clock movement rather than just the gears.  Thanks to funds raised by the Friends of UGAMI and the hard work of some dedicated UGAMI staff, we were able to resume the normal progress of time on Sapelo Island.  UGAMI’s auto mechanic, E.C. Harrell, spent a lot of time climbing inside the wall of the auditorium to extricate the old clock movement and install the new one.  Our facilities manager, Jason Johnson, wired the new movement and electronic control box.  On a separate yet related note, research technician Tim Montgomery restored the bell in the cupola to a functioning state.

In the grand scheme of maintaining and renovating the facilities at UGAMI, the clock and bell may be small pieces of the puzzle. But they are tangible symbols of UGAMI’s rejuvenation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month, work started on a major renovation of UGAMI’s main laboratory building.  This project represents the first phase of a multi-year plan to completely renovate and modernize the Main Lab.  At 20,000 square feet, the Main Lab is UGAMI’s largest building, and is critical to the Institute’s mission.

The main lab was built in the 1920s and was originally a dairy barn.  It was re-purposed as a research laboratory in 1953 when the UGA Marine Institute was founded.  It certainly wasn’t your average dairy barn (not many barns include a 100-seat theater), and it has served remarkably well as a research lab for the past 64 years.  However, at almost a century old, the building required upgrades to address critical infrastructure needs, and the space was not optimized to meet current programming demands.

The work being tackled in this first phase includes:

• Replacing and upgrading the main electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling services for the entire building;
• Upgrading water and sewer lines servicing the building, as well as installing new septic tanks;
• Gutting the northern half of the first floor;
• and in the newly-cleared space, constructing four new research laboratories for use by visiting scientists and a 20-student teaching laboratory for classes.

See plans for the renovations of the first floor of the lab here: 3-4x – A-101A- FIRST FLOOR PARTIAL PARTITION PLAN -A Rev.0.

Undertaking a construction project on an island presents logistical challenges, as all of the construction material (and demolition debris) must be transported by barge.  The project called for a new foundation slab to be poured, requiring six fully-loaded cement trucks to be barged to the Island.

Support for the renovation is being provided by Major Renovation and Repair funds from the Board of Regents of the University of Georgia.  Phase I should be completed by April, just in time for the busy field research season and summer classes to begin.  Everyone at UGAMI is excited about the new teaching and research capabilities that these renovations will provide.  We will update the photo gallery periodically. Stay tuned!

 

 

On December 22, 2016, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR) celebrated its fortieth anniversary.  The 6,100-acre reserve covers a swath along the western and southern flanks of Sapelo Island, including the UGAMI campus. SINERR’s research and education initiatives focus on the natural ecosystems, cultural resources, and history of Sapelo Island and the surrounding estuary.

There is a long tradition of collaboration between UGAMI and SINERR; the two organizations have been intimately linked since SINERR’s inception. SINERR is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a network of 28 reserves spread out among coastal states.  The National Estuarine Research Reserve System was created by the federal Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972, with the mission “to practice and promote stewardship of coasts and estuaries through innovative research, education and training using a place-based system of protected areas.”  Research conducted at UGAMI helped convince Congress that America’s estuaries needed enhanced protection, and thus created the Coastal Zone Management Act and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.  Given UGAMI’s pioneering leadership in estuarine science and Georgia’s commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems, it was not surprising that one of America’s first National Estuarine Research Reserves was sited here at Sapelo Island.

The National Estuarine Research Reserves operate as partnerships between coastal states and the federal government (under the auspices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).  In SINERR’s case, the lead state agency is the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

SINERR celebrated its anniversary at several events throughout the year, culminating in a ceremony at the Atlas Conference Center on the UGAMI campus at which UGAMI Director Merryl Alber presented the original plaque designating the Reserve to the Reserve Manager, Doug Samson.  The plaque dates back to the original dedication ceremony held at UGAMI in 1976 during which SINERR was created.  Signed by Governor George Busbee, the plaque had been on display in UGAMI’s main lab building for the past 40 years.  It now resides in SINERR’s headquarters.

The Friends of UGAMI spearheaded a project to install two new interpretive signs for the Alligator Pond on the UGAMI campus.  One sign describes the history of the artificial pond, which was created in 1923 when Howard Coffin owned what we now call the Reynolds Mansion.  The second sign covers the ecology of the plants and animals that inhabit the pond.  The pond is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including turtles and alligators. Wood storks, egrets, and herons roost in the surrounding trees.  One recent survey by a visiting class counted 13 gators in the pond.

Click here to see a 360-degree view from the boardwalk in the Alligator Pond

The sign installation was a team effort.  They were designed by the The Friends of UGAMI, paid for by a grant from the Garden Club of Georgia (awarded to the Friends of UGAMI), and installed by the UGAMI maintenance staff.  Check them out the next time you are on Sapelo.

Research Technician II

Target Audience(s): Technician/Staff

Institution: University of Georgia Marine Institute

Institutional Web Link: http://ugami.uga.edu

Position Description: This position is based at the UGA Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, GA. The selected individual will serve as a field technician for the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Program (gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/lter/) and will work with other technicians in residence at the Marine Institute.

Minimum Qualifications: Associate’s degree and some relevant experience required.

Area-specific certification may be required and training will be provided as appropriate (i.e. UGA HazMat training).

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.S. in an Environmental Science (Biology, Chemistry, Geology),
• US Coast Guard Captains license,
• First aid certification

Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification required:

• Field research experience
• Valid driver’s license
• Small boat piloting experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies required to successfully perform work:

• Must be able to operate trucks and small boats safely and effectively.
• Must have basic computer skills, including experience with email, work-processing, and spreadsheet programs.
• Must have good people skills and be able to work as part of a team.

Physical Demands: The position will occasionally require strenuous physical activity and irregular hours. Much of the work is done outdoors in hot, muddy, and buggy conditions.

Work Hours: Generally, 8:30 – 5:00 M – F; although field work may require early or late hours and occasional weekends.

Posting Date: 11-22-2016

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Proposed Starting Date: 12-01-2016

Salary Range: $23,500 (negotiable)

Position Type: Permanent Position

Funding Source(s): National Science Foundation (NSF)

How to Apply: Position can be found on the University of Georgia employment page

www.ugajobsearch.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=70504

Application Closing Date: Until position is filled.

The Friends of UGAMI held one of their regular work weekends on the UGAMI campus.  Originally scheduled for the weekend during which Hurricane Matthew struck, they rescheduled for the weekend of November 11-13.

Twelve members participated in the work weekend, working on the Barrier Island Research Lab dormitory (BIRL), Teal Boardwalk, Sears House, and garage.  At the BIRL dorm, new light bulbs were installed in the kitchen and two new ceiling fans were installed in the breezeway. The front section of the boardwalk was raised six inches to try to avoid water standing on it for long periods of time and the top walk boards were replaced. Eventually all the walk boards will be replaced and the observation platform at the end will be moved back about 16 feet. At the Sears house, the stairway walls and ceiling were painted. The handrail was reinstalled and a new toilet was installed in the downstairs bathroom. Also, the kitchen ceiling was taped and plastered. The back of the garage was scraped and painted with two coats of primer.

During their weekend at UGAMI, the Friends also had some fantastic meals and visited the Sapelo lighthouse and beach.  Everyone had a great time working together.

The Friends of UGAMI promote, support, and advance the research and educational mission of the UGA Marine Institute.  The Friends hold several work weekends every year and provide financial support for student training and research at UGAMI.  To join the Friends of UGAMI or make a contribution, visit their web site.

UGA’s Franklin Residential College (FRC) visited UGAMI during fall break on Oct 28-30.  FRC is a student-governed residential college program modeled after the residential colleges found at Ivy League institutions, giving the feel of a small college within a great university and offering its members opportunities to participate in intellectual and cultural events.  FRC students traveled to UGAMI to learn about the natural history and culture of Sapelo Island, and to take part in UGAMI research.  They conducted a nighttime bioacoustics survey in the Duplin River; took part in a fisheries trawl survey in Doboy Sound aboard the R/V Spartina; ate dinner at the famous Lula’s Kitchen in the Hog Hammock community; spotted alligators and spiders at night by flashlight; hiked the nature trail through the maritime forests, salt marshes and dunes in the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve; toured the Reynolds Mansion; had a bonfire on the beach; and watched the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.  The annual trip to UGAMI is a highlight of the year for many FRC students because it allows them to explore Sapelo Island, follow their curiosity, and get away from traditional schoolwork for a couple of days.

I had a blast trawling and getting to see the fish species diversity in hand! I’d love to do something similar for an internship or summer job one day.

                                                                                                                 -FRC Student, Katie Russel

A large number of researchers, students, and volunteers associated with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystem (GCE) – Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER) gathered at UGAMI during the week of October 24-28 for the GCE’s annual fall monitoring. The goal of fall monitoring is to collect an extensive, standardized set of information during the same period every autumn from the GCE’s core sampling sites for use by all of the research projects associated with GCE and for inclusion in GCE’s long term databases. The research team started out a bit “behind the 8-ball” and short-handed due to hurricane Matthew, but with help from volunteers and beautiful clear days, they managed to finish all of their work on schedule. All the vegetation at one of their marsh sampling sites had been flattened by a huge mat of wrack that Hurricane Matthew’s storm surge pushed up into the marsh, but the other sites showed remarkably little signs of the storm. In addition to accomplishing an enormous amount of field sampling, fall monitoring week is a great opportunity for research colleagues from many universities across the country to catch up on each others’ recent research accomplishments.

The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research site was established by the National Science Foundation in 2000 and is based at UGAMI. The study area encompasses three adjacent sounds (Altamaha, Doboy, and Sapelo Sounds) and includes upland (mainland, barrier islands, marsh hammocks), intertidal (fresh, brackish and salt marsh) and submerged (river, estuary, continental shelf) habitats. Over 60 participants, representing 14 academic institutions and agencies, are currently involved in GCE research and educational programs. GCE research has contributed significantly to understanding the processes that shape estuarine and marsh environments.