On Friday, January 20, 2017, representatives from three of the four NOAA Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs) visited the NOAA Pacific Environmental Marine Laboratory (PMEL) for an introductory visit with the primary objectives of:
1) Familiarizing CSC leadership and students with research opportunities at PMEL and;
2) Familiarizing PMEL leadership with CSC capabilities and training.
A group of representatives from the CSCs led by City College of New York (CCNY), Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), and Howard University (HU) were accompanied by Ms. Jacqueline Rousseau, Supervisory Program Manager, NOAA Educational Partnership Program and Student Scholarships. The group included CSC Directors, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi (CCNY) and Dr. Vernon Morris (HU), Faculty mentors Dr. Terri Adams (HU), Dr. Richard Long (FAMU), and Assistant Director (CCNY) Dr. Shakila Merchant. There were also eight CSC Fellows and one Postdoctoral Fellow in attendance. Six of the Fellows and the Postdoctoral Fellow gave brief presentations of ongoing work of relevance to PMEL’s research portfolio.
The schedule of events began with a welcome from PMEL Director, Dr. Chris Sabine, followed by an overview of PMEL, an overview of the CSC program, and individual summaries of the CSCs in attendance.
During the second half of the morning, attendees from the CSCs spent time engaging with PMEL staff in parallel breakout sessions, aligned with various research program leads. The thematic research areas focused on Climate, Earth-Ocean Interactions, Marine Ecosystem Research, and Ocean and Coastal Processes. There were two sets of breakout sessions which allowed the CSC participants to move to various areas, exposing them to the broad range of activities, and to NOAA stakeholders. The CSC Fellows and Postdoctoral Fellow presentations were given after lunch, and followed by an all-hands Q&A session aimed at identifying specific opportunities for exchange.
Afterwards, the CSC leadership and Ms. Rousseau met with Dr. Glen Watabayshi of National Ocean Service’s (NOS) Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) in a closed session.
Finally, Ms. Adi Hanein, Research Coordinator, Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, coordinated lab tours for AMS Meeting attendees who were subsequently interested, as afollow-on to the January 20 visit. Nine additional CSC Fellows and Alumni participated in these activities on January 25 and 26.
Many CSC Fellows, Staff, as well as PMEL scientists attended the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA from January 21 – 26. Thus, information on PMEL presentations and CSC events were shared during the Meeting, as well as at the NCAS-sponsored Colour of Weather Reception, on Sunday, January 22.
City College New York Fellows:
Cassandra Calderella, Chris Lunger, and Yoribaldis Olivo
Howard University Fellows:
Michelle Dovil, Kafayat Olayinka, Keren Rosado, Shadya Sanders, Emily Saunders, Daniel Yeager
Alumna Dr. Yaitza Luna
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Richard Medina
Jackson State University Fellow:
Tony Hurt, II
