The video above showcases some of the accomplishments of 2021. In addition, we are happy to announce that, for the third year in a row, IMET has been recognized as one of Baltimore's Top Workplaces by the Baltimore Sun.
This year also saw the completion and publication of the blue crab genome, led by Drs. J. Sook Chung and Tsvetan Bachvaroff. This resource will advance research on Maryland's state crustacean, helping to protect the Chesapeake and the blue crab fishery.
We had the very exciting news that a $10M grant was awarded to a project led by UMBC’s Yonathan Zohar and other IMET scientists to advance research on salmon aquaculture in the U.S. This builds on the already robust Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network, which connects universities, policymakers, industry, and the public.
2021 also saw the renewal of IMET's long partnership with NOAA to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in marine science. The continuation of the LMRCSC program and funding will help IMET maintain and grow its support of students from marginalized groups in science.
In other exciting news, we closed out 2021 with a visit from the Israeli Minister of Agriculture. During this visit, a statement of intent was signed to increase aquaculture collaboration between IMET, UMBC, and Israel. We are grateful to Dr. Yonathan Zohar and his years of cooperation with Israeli researchers for making this happen.
As always, we are immensely proud of our graduate students, who have worked through adversities this year to study, work in the lab, and connect with their fellow students. We highlight three wonderful student projects below.
There are of course many other exciting projects and initiatives that I do not have space to feature here. I am very grateful to all the members of the IMET community for enabling us to move forward with education, research, and entrepreneurship, despite tremendous challenges posed by COVID-19. I also want to say thank you to all of IMET's generous donors for making 2021 such an unforgettable year!
I hope that this note finds you and your family safe and healthy. Best wishes for a joyous 2022!
