CSUMB offers ocean science research opportunity for undergraduates

Program funded with $1.5 million grant from National Science Foundation

By Claudia Meléndez Salinas

cmelendez@montereyherald.com @MelendezSalinas on Twitter

Posted: 08/07/2014 07:08:36 PM PDT

Updated: 08/07/2014 07:08:39 PM PDT

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SEASIDE >> Sometimes things really do happen for a reason, and in the case of CSU Monterey Bay student Taylor Eddy, a good outcome emerged from a shoulder injury.

An avid swimmer, the 21-year-old marine sciences student didn't start thinking about internships until after the injury forced her to get some rest from two years of being on the water polo team. That's how she began volunteering at the Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, where she learned about a research opportunity in her own back yard.

'I'm glad I switched my focus,' she said. 'It helped.'

Eddy is one of 11 undergraduate students spending the summer conducting research at CSUMB thanks to the Summer Ocean Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates, a ten-week program funded by the National Science Foundation. The grant is for $1.5 million, and will fund the program for three years.

Now in its ninth week, the program walked the students through the customary steps of scientific research: formulating their thesis, writing their proposals, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting their findings.

Eddy and her group will make their presentations next week, and she's a bit nervous, she said.

'It's my first talk in front of a group of peers,' she said.

CSUMB is one of 33 universities in the United States to receive the grant for ocean science research - and the only one in the California State University system.

One hundred and eighty students applied, said project coordinator Corey Garza, an associate professor in the division of science and environmental policy. Students needed to have a GPA of 3.0 and preference was given to applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in the ocean sciences: Latinos, African Americans, low-income, women.

Students also had to demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in ocean science research.

'A lot of times we get students looking for a resume builder,' Garza said. 'We're not really looking at that type of student.'

The 11 accepted students come from all over the United States, with Eddy being the only CSUMB student now in the program.

Another nearby student, Dale Garcia, comes from Hartnell College, where he's completed his general education requirements. He will begin the fall semester at CSUMB.

Garcia, 22, worked this summer with Steve Moore, director of CSUMB's ecosystem electronics lab (EEL), where Moore and his students design and build remotely operated vehicles to observe marine wildlife.

Garcia devised a laser system to monitor marine life, a contraption he got to test in the water.

'The camera to capture (the action) did not have much battery,' he said. 'We'll try again Saturday.'

Eddy's research is focusing on eating habits of humpback whales, and she's comparing whales off Moss Landing with whales that feed further north. As part of the research, she was able to travel with her graduate student mentor to see how humpback whales get tagged.

'It was awesome,' she said. 'We got to see them very close.'

The internship has been an amazing opportunity, and she would take it again if she could, Eddy said.

'Being able to go through the extra research project has been a long journey, but very rewarding,' she said.

For his part, Garcia says that even though he has not found a calling for research, he has acquired a new level of appreciation for scientists.

'Trust the scientists,' he said. 'They know what they're doing. It takes a lot of work to get new knowledge. Specially if it's peer reviewed.'

Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755. Entities 0 Name: CSUMB Count: 4 1 Name: Garcia Count: 3 2 Name: United States Count: 2 3 Name: National Science Foundation Count: 2 4 Name: Claudia Meléndez Salinas Count: 2 5 Name: Eddy Count: 2 6 Name: Taylor Eddy Count: 1 7 Name: Moss Landing Count: 1 8 Name: Hopkins Marine Station Count: 1 9 Name: Moore Count: 1 10 Name: CSU Monterey Bay Count: 1 11 Name: Steve Moore Count: 1 12 Name: Dale Garcia Count: 1 13 Name: Garza Count: 1 14 Name: Hartnell College Count: 1 15 Name: Corey Garza Count: 1 16 Name: Summer Ocean Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates Count: 1 17 Name: California State University Count: 1 18 Name: Pacific Grove Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1u455b6 Title: Let's Kill the College Major Description: A proposal for a new university in Canada recently caught my eye for a host of reasons, not the least of which is that its students wouldn't have majors. Instead, the students would be able to "distinguish themselves through practical and demonstrable skills in four areas of focus-technology, entrepreneurship/management, health professions, and creative industries."

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