The Island View
Monthly Newsletter
December 2021
Winter on Appledore Island. Photo by Dr. James Coyer.
Dear SML Community, 

All of us at SML want to wish you and yours a warm and joyful holiday season and New Year! 2021 was a unique and rewarding year for SML. We were so fortunate to have robust institutional support to offer safe in-person academic programs and conduct critical science. The success of our operations with zero COVID cases detected on-island is due to several key players, including Dave Buck (Assoc. Director) and Mike Rosen (Dir. of Operations), who navigated testing support. Thanks also to the rest of the SML staff for their energy, resilience, and passion for the work we do!

With this accomplishment behind us, our minds are deeply ensconced in summer 2022. We are developing new programs alongside student favorites to continue delivering transformative field learning experiences. Many of you will be glad to know that our garden steward, Terry Cook, is planning the return of Celia Thaxter’s Island Garden to its budding and beautiful state this summer! And as before, we are organizing a set of operating plans so we are ready to address the ever-changing COVID landscape in a manner that prioritizes everyone’s safety and wellbeing.  
 
I hope you all know that SML’s success is directly tied to you – our community. As you will read below, summers on Appledore offer life-changing memories and career opportunities for students from across the globe. These stories and the many moments we share with deserving undergraduates would not be possible without your support. We are so close to achieving our annual fundraising goal, but I ask for your help to push us over the finish line. If you have not already made a year-end gift and would like to do so, you can find a link here.

Thank you to each and every one of our supporters. We hope you feel a deep sense of accomplishment this holiday season knowing that SML students, interns, researchers, and operations will benefit greatly from your generosity.  
Peace to you,
Jennifer Seavey, Ph.D.
Kingsbury Executive Director
Shoals Marine Laboratory
The Immeasurable Impacts of Experiential Learning
Yuna Park spotting seabirds over Smuttynose Island. Photos by Collin Love.
One of the many powerful aspects of courses at SML is the encouragement they offer students to continue their scientific pursuits beyond Appledore Island. For Yuna Park, first-time exposure to field research sparked something special within them...

"During my time in Field Ornithology, I had the opportunity to visit White and Seavey Islands to learn about the restoration and conservation of endangered tern colonies in the Gulf of Maine. I’ll never forget the experience of stepping onto the island for the first time, ankle-deep in seaweed, and being greeted by a flurry of protective, screaming terns – I fell in love immediately.
I was able to learn about (and carry out!) routine data collection to understand the impacts of changing climate conditions on the birds nesting on the islands. This experience inspired me to learn more about seabird conservation and the unique threats that marine ecosystems face.
 
Currently, I’m working under Dr. Gemma Clucas at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to analyze footage of the White and Seavey terns and identify the kinds of fish being brought back to the nest by parents. Next summer, I hope to return to the terns as an undergraduate intern to continue this work, and perhaps to integrate some of the interests sparked by my independent project in Field Ornithology. The time I spent at Shoals has been one of the most influential experiences of my undergraduate career, and it would not have been possible without the financial support I received." 

– Yuna Park, Cornell University '23

For a large majority of SML students, these opportunities are made possible by the support of our donors who understand the impacts and empowerment experiential learning offers. Each donation, no matter the size, helps us secure scholarship support for young scientists who are working to find themselves in the competitive field of science. If you would like to make an end-of-year tax-deductible donation, please click the button below. As always, thank you for your support!
Improving Sustainability of Farmed Fish
Eugene Won cleaning a tank in his lab. Photo by Nicole Rossi.
Dr. Eugene Won, Cornell University Senior Research Associate in the Department of Animal Science and SML Academic Coordinator, runs an aquaculture lab testing alternative fish feed components to help make the aquaculture industry more environmentally and economically viable. His fascinating work was recently featured by Cornell University in an exciting story that emphasizes the importance of sustainable aquaculture. To read the full story, click the button below. Go Eugene!
SML is Hiring a Director of Community Relations!
We are looking for a new member to join our dynamic and passionate team as the Director of Community Relations. This position cultivates and advances meaningful relationships with our donors and community. Applicants should be motivated to develop and implement plans to increase awareness, engagement, and support for the Shoals Marine Laboratory’s (SML) mission and programs. The DCR reports directly to and works closely with the Executive Director (ED) to perform duties. The role is a varied one that combines elements of relationship building, stakeholder management, fundraising, and supervising the communication coordinator. If you know a qualified candidate, please help us spread the word by sharing the posting linked to the button below!
Shoals Marine Laboratory is a joint partnership between
Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire.