The University of Georgia Marine Institute At Sapelo Island
Attention Students!
Are you interested in learning more about student opportunities at UGAMI? We will be participating in UGA’s virtual study away fair next Tuesday, Sept 15th.
To chat with us, please register here.
You can also get an idea of what a virtual fair will look like here.
Hope to see you there!
UGAMI, along with two other university field stations, is collaborating to produce a suite of virtual estuarine field experiences for undergraduate students. This project will develop products that address widespread educational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to develop educational content and experiences that provide access to outdoor, field-based learning for all students.
The virtual modules will be filmed at the University of Georgia Marine Institute (UGAMI) and Baruch Marine Field Laboratory (BMFL) at the University of South Carolina, and the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will provide their expertise in environmental education to help ensure the quality and applicability of these modules.
This project, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), will provide a more accessible field experience for those with mobility impairments, financial limitations, family obligations, as well as reduce limitations of geographic accessibility. All videos, datasets, and educational materials will be available for free download.
For more information, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2037372&HistoricalAwards=false
Due to the threat of COVID-19, UGAMI will be closed to visiting class groups until further notice. Researchers wishing to visit will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. We hope everyone stays safe out there.
For the past six months, we’ve been hard at work designing a brand new visitor center and gift shop. We are excited to unveil this new UGAMI addition that we hope excites others as well! Next time you are at UGAMI be sure to stop in the main administrative building.
In the visitor center, you can experience UGAMI’s early days with artifacts, photographs, and even the original signed guest book from the 1958 Marsh Conference. You can also learn more about the research and education that occurs daily at UGAMI.
In the gift shop, you can take your love of UGAMI home with brand new merchandise. We have t-shirts, hats, mugs, and copies of the GCE children’s book and comic book. We hope to see you soon!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 GCE Undergraduate Summer Internships!
There are four internships available with three opportunities based on Sapelo Island, and one internship based at the University of South Carolina. The application deadline is Sunday, March 8th at midnight. For more information and to apply, please visit http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/…/summer_internships_2020.asp.
Project descriptions listed below:
Salt marsh invertebrate ecology. Supervisor: Dr. Christine Angelini (University of Florida). The intern will participate in salt marsh surveys, experimental manipulations, and sample collections designed to better understand salt marsh responses to disturbance as part of the GCE “disturbance-scape” project. In addition to field work, the intern will help process samples in the laboratory, including dissection of invertebrate species and processing of water, plants, invertebrates and sediment for chemical analyses. The intern should be comfortable with long days in the field (up to 12 hours or more depending on tides) and have the ability to carry 40 lbs or more. Experience with small boats is desirable but not required. The position will be based at Sapelo Island GA for ~8 weeks during May-August 2020; housing will be provided. Some time may be spent at the UF campus in Gainesville FL processing samples that cannot be processed at UGAMI.
Growing salt marsh plants hydroponically. Supervisors: Dr. Steven Pennings (University of Houston) and Dr. Jessica O’Connell (University of Georgia). The intern will develop methods for growing the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora hydroponically by adapting existing methods that have been used with other large grasses. This will set the stage for GCE staff to conduct experiments over the winter of 2020-21 where we will grow plants hydroponically so that we can periodically measure the roots and rhizomes as well as the shoots. The intern will develop the methods for doing this, testing different containers, hydroponic solutions, and methods for measuring roots and shoots to find which approaches work best. Experience with hydroponics, culture of plants or animals in captivity, or plumbing would be helpful. The position will be based on Sapelo Island Georgia for ~8 weeks during May-August 2020; housing will be provided. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated.
Field assistant in coastal science. Supervisor: Jacob Shalack (GCE LTER lead technician). The intern will work as a general assistant to the GCE technicians on Sapelo Island. Duties may include assisting in water quality sampling, plant and invertebrate monitoring, flux tower maintenance, helping a variety of research groups with field work, and light construction. This position will be primarily in the field, and will require strenuous physical activity and irregular hours. The position will be based on Sapelo Island, GA for ~10 weeks during May-August 2020; housing will be provided. This position is open to all undergraduate students, including graduating seniors.
GIS land use and change of Sapelo Island. Supervisors: Dr. Nik Heynen (University of Georgia) and Dr. Dean Hardy (University of South Carolina). The intern will assist with land use and land cover change analysis of Sapelo Island, Georgia and the surrounding region. Required skills are demonstrated familiarity with GIS products and processes such as creating and editing shapefiles, creating and managing geodatabases, manipulating map projections and coordinate reference systems, georectification of scanned maps, heads-up digitizing, raster analysis and basic map algebra. Preferred skills include familiarity with collecting and importing GPS data into a GIS, knowledge of open source GIS platforms, and an ability to travel to the field site on Sapelo Island two to three times for 2-3 days at a time over the summer for data collection. The position will be based in Columbia, SC at the University of South Carolina for ~8 weeks during May-August 2020, where Dr. Hardy will be the immediate supervisor. This position is limited to students who have not yet graduated.
The first law of Marine Science is that electronics and saltwater don’t play well together. Anyone who has owned a boat or deployed an electronic instrument near the ocean can attest to this truth.
UGAMI’s CreekCam, installed in 2016, became a victim of the corrosive effects of salt spray and died a slow death last summer. But a new camera was installed at the same location this week and is set to transmit an image every 10 minutes. As before, the latest image is always displayed on the Current Conditions page: https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/conditions.asp. Archived images can also be viewed and downloaded.
Want to see the tidal height and weather conditions at 7:15 AM on February 1, 2017? Or are you wondering when spring green-up occurs in the marsh? No problem, we got it.
Historically, January has been a quiet month at UGAMI. At this time, faculty and students are just beginning their spring semester classes at their home institutions. But this year is different. UGAMI is now offering a full slate of undergraduate classes in its inaugural Marine Biology Spring Semester. Students from UGA and four other universities started classes at UGAMI on January 7th and will be in residence on Sapelo Island through the end of April. During this time, the students will take a series of five classes in ecology, marine biology, fisheries science, and animal behavior. Rather than just reading and listening to lectures, these classes are built around field experiences. This sort of immersive learning experience can be life-changing for students. As a residential field program, students and faculty get to know one-another outside of the classroom and often develop lasting relationships that benefit students as they embark on their careers.
Periodically throughout the semester, we will post updates on the students’ experiences here and on UGAMI’s Facebook page.
Dear Friend,
We recently received a note from Dr. Benjamin Ehlers, Director of the Franklin Residential College at UGA, who said:
“We had a great trip: Sapelo encompassed everything we are striving for at FRC, in terms of academic rigor, contributing to the community through service events, and building community among our residents.”
We couldn’t agree more—Sapelo is a magical place, and the opportunities for researchers and students to work and learn about coastal ecosystems just keep coming. This past October we had researchers from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, classes from both UGA’s Entomology and Geography depts., a class from Middle Georgia State Univ., and a volunteer group from the Georgia Conservancy–not to mention the annual fall monitoring effort of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Program—all during the same week! We continue to renovate the campus, with plans to add visitor offices to the library wing this coming year, and we are launching a new semester-long residential education program in January.
We’re writing now to ask you to join us so we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities for research and education. Your tax-deductible donation will be used for a host of programs and activities, ranging from supporting summer internships to renovating the turkey fountain to subsidizing housing costs for graduate students. This year we are also hoping to raise enough money to build new bridges over the alligator pond (which had to be closed when one of the pylons failed—luckily everyone was o.k.!).
Your contribution will make you a member of the “Friends of UGAMI”, a group that supports the Institute and helps with special projects such as restoration of the Teal Boardwalk. Donations can be made on-line, or via a check made out to “UGA Foundation”, with “Friends of UGAMI” in the byline, and sent to Friends of UGAMI, Marine Sciences Building, 325 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602. We thank you for your consideration.
With deep appreciation,
Merryl Alber
Director, UGA Marine Institute
Beth Richardson
President, Friends of UGAMI
The water garden that sits behind the Marine Institute provides habitat for birds as well as fish, alligators and other wildlife, and is a popular destination for visitors. A group of roseate spoonbills made the alligator pond their home for almost a month this past spring along with the usual snowy egrets. Unfortunately, the wooden pilings that support the two bridges that span the pond have decayed over the years and the walkway is now closed. We are hoping to raise money to replace them.
Field Research Technician, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project
The GCE LTER program seeks a research technician to assist with studies of coastal ecology. Work will involve studies of water quality, soils, and wetland plants and animals. This Research Technician II position is based at the UGA Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, GA. The selected individual will work with other technicians, faculty and students at the field site.
The minimum qualification for the position is an Associate’s degree and some relevant experience; however, candidates with 4-year degrees in an environmental field (Biology, Chemistry, Geology) and significant experience will be the most competitive. Candidates must be able to operate pickup trucks, and have basic computer skills, including experience with email, word-processing, and spreadsheet programs. Let us know if you have any of the following useful skills or training: US Coast Guard Captains license, small boat piloting experience, drone pilot license, drone piloting experience, GIS.
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.
Salary Range: $28,000
Posting Number: S04184P
State legislators participating in the Environmental Policy Academy visited the coast this week to learn about issues facing these communities. On Thursday they visited UGAMI to see our facilities and learn about our education and research programs, particularly those related to coastal resiliency. While on Sapelo Island, the legislators also toured and met with representatives of the Hog Hammock Community, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Department of Natural Resources.
The Legislative Environmental Policy Academy is coordinated by UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and provides Georgia legislators on the House and Senate Natural Resource and Environment Committee with current, objective information on the state’s most pressing environmental concerns.
