October

Photo by A.C.

In Memory of Dr. Thomas F. Lytle

It is with a heavy heart we acknowledge the passing of our colleague Dr. Thomas F. Lytle. Dr. Lytle, an analytical chemist with a PhD from University of Texas as Austin, was a scientist at GCRL for 33 years. He with his wife and colleague, Dr. Julia S. Lytle who was an environmental chemist, published more than 200 peer review articles and reports over their careers, making a significant contribution to Gulf of Mexico marine chemistry. They documented the pollution transport in the Mississippi Sound and were the first to identify the levels omega-3 fatty acid found in our warm water Gulf of Mexico fishes.  

RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

Join the Geoscience Information Society’s annual free two-day virtual workshop, Geoscience Librarianship 101, which introduces library/information science students, new librarians, and information professionals to some areas of geoscience librarianship, earth science information resources, and their organization. These two half-day professional development sessions feature talks on AI, GIS, legacy map collections, and more! Attendance is free and sessions are held via Zoom. Dates are Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27th - 28th, 2026; Time: 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm (Eastern Daylight)

If you need help, please contact the librarian for coastal sciences at:

guntergcrl@usm.edu

October is Open Access Month. The sessions are designed to help you learn more about open research, accessibility, and emerging tools for sharing and discovering scholarly work. All sessions will be held in Cook Library Room 206Z and virtually.

The Research Day events will be Friday, November 6th, at the Marine Education Center in Ocean Springs. In addition to celebrating achievements, faculty and staff members are invited to present their research during the afternoon Research Showcase through various mediums (posters, models, art, media, etc.).

The Research Showcase will take place after lunch and is scheduled from 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Registration required to attend or present. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 6. Due to space limitations, the selection for the showcase will be LIMITED, and those selected to participate will be notified by Oct. 23. Questions? Contact Kim Wingo at Kimberly.Wingo@usm.edu or 601-266-6849.

Welcome Our New Employees

Tyler Mitchell – Aquaculture Technician II – TCMAC

Denver Coupe – Aquaculture Technician I – TCMAC

Joshua Perry – Aquaculture Biologist II – Oyster – TCMAC

From The Archive:

Gunter Library holds many historical photos and documents that illustrate the rich history of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. The poster display for the Open House was an opportunity to illustrate GCRL’s origins and ongoing commitment to marine science education and research over the past 80 years. The display, “Guardians of the Northern Gulf of Mexico,” is on the wall at the entrance to the Caylor building, and we have received a lot of positive feedback about the display.

BRC

Shout out to Gunter Library's own Brennan Collins for his impressive GCRL Time Line! Brennan's hard work helped to make Open House a great success.

Changes at GCRL

Demolition of the Fisheries Lab is complete!



UPCOMING EVENTS

Abstracts Submissions Due November 15th 2026

Be sure to register for the Coastal Clean Up!

We will have check in set up adjacent to the East Beach/Halstead Campus on the beach. 

Celebrate Stennis Space Center's 65^th anniversary with Family and Friends Day events on Saturday, October 24, at the INFINITY Science Center. (free)

The 48th Annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival on Nov. 7 & 8, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

GCRL Science Café Presents:

Our October presenter is Dr. Marie Danforth

Dr Danforth joined the University of Southern Mississippi faculty in Hattiesburg in 1987. She has severed as Professor Emerita of Anthropology at USM until her recent retirement. Her research specialty is bioarchaeology, which involves the investigation of past lifeways as revealed by human remains in archaeological contexts. She has worked with both prehistoric and historic populations from both Mesoamerica and the southeastern U.S.

La Fin du Voyage: Archaeological Analysis of a French Colonial Cemetery in Biloxi

Around 1720, Biloxi became the capital of Louisiana, and hundreds of French immigrants were brought over to settle the new colony. Many died due to horrendous local conditions, poor provisioning and a rate of high disease. Hurricanes Camille and Katrina revealed a small cemetery near the beach where many had been buried, and Dr Danforth along with her students excavated it from 2005 until 2012. 

The historical setting as well as results of the archaeological analysis of those interred are presented, helping us to better understand an important but relatively underappreciated period shaping the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

"Like" the GCRL Science Cafe Facebook page for more information about upcoming Science Cafe events.

If you missed any of our virtual GCRL Science Cafes visit our Marine Education Center’s (MEC) Facebook page at the link below.

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

703 East Beach Drive

Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Joyce Shaw, Librarian & Professor

Chris Cahill, Library Manager

  Brennan Collins, Library Archival Assistant