Rising Tides Newsletter - August 2026

For 35 years, this oceanography camp has trained future scientists

For over three decades, the Oceanography Camp Especially for Girls has helped more than 1,500 rising high school students gain interest and excitement about science and the ocean. 

New faculty member leverages ocean engineering to improve subsea technology

Lakshmi Miller, assistant professor of hydrography, is an ocean engineer whose expertise includes the development of autonomous and unmanned underwater vehicles.

Graduate students come together in the wake of the Marine Science Laboratory fire

As the college deals with the aftermath of the fire, graduate students step up to help with recovery efforts and support each other.

Social Media News

The New York Times and Reuters interviewed Brian Barnes about the use of satellite observations to track oil spills in the Middle East. 

WUSF, The Tampa Bay Business Journal, 10 Tampa Bay, and other outlets covered a federal investment of $1.5 million for ocean instrumentation at the College of Marine Science. 

Sargassum continues to be a major news topic with coverage in The New York Times, Associated Press, and many other outlets.

• Welcome to our new graduate students for Spring and Fall 2026!

MS 

Sarah Almesad

Casey Breslow

Charlie Garrison

Emmaline Miller

Senthy Nguyen

Hunter Strong

Monique Vernon

PhD

Brandon Daly

Sarah Durrani

Zee Grossman

Melanie Lin

Bronson Mills

Christian Pryor

Fatma Betul Seker

Chris Vogt

Shannon Wiley

Lizzy Wilson

• Congratulations to the 2026-2027 officers of the Marine Science Advisory Committee:

Sam D'Angelo, President

Nina Rodriguez, Vice President

Logan Dudney, Treasurer

Lauren Bulik, Secretary

Senthy Nguyen, Social Chair

Layne Leggett & Lilianna Giuffrida, Outreach Coordinators

• Chad Silva, facilities manager for the College of Marine Science, was featured in the latest issue of the Inside USF newsletter. Read the newsletter to learn more about the central role Silva plays at the college and his contributions to the recovery effort at the Marine Science Lab.

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