Students participating in summer research down at the Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS) in Honduras were able to practice their fish and coral survey techniques in the Florida Keys this past weekend.

While there, students met with the Coral Research Foundation to learn about their efforts toward propagation and out planting to support the largest coral reef in the United States.

"I had an amazing time diving in the keys and practicing fish surveys for my summer research in Honduras. This hands-on experience was invaluable as it helped me become more comfortable with identify fish in the field and recording observation on a slate while diving. I now understand the challenges that come with surveying fish and how I can modify my methods to overcome them. Because of this trip, I will be able to effectively collect data in Honduras, which will be essential for impactful research and a successful project. Overall, I am very thankful for this experience and cannot wait to continue work on my research in Honduras."  -Wyatt Rudd ‘27

The Domestic Animal Biology Class Takes a Trip to Dogs Inc.

This semester, the students in our Domestic Animal Biology course had the incredible opportunity to visit Dogs Inc in Palmetto, Florida! Dogs Inc is an inspiring nonprofit organization that raises and trains service dogs for people in need, such as veterans and people with vision loss, at no cost to them. The organization offers public tours on a regular basis, but the FSC Domestic Animal Biology class was given a very unique behind-the-scenes experience specifically curated to help our biology students make connections between what they’re learning in the classroom and how those topics are applied in the real world.

The field trip began with a tour of the Puppy Academy (what a perfect place to start!), where students fed puppies and learned about the early stages of canine development and training. The tour continued through the Dogs Inc Veterinary Center, Canine Fitness, Genetics & Reproduction, and Canine Development facilities. At each department, students were given personalized Q&A sessions with expert veterinarians, trainers, scientists, and other animal care specialists. Not only did the students enjoy interacting with adorable puppies and friendly well-trained dogs, but perhaps more importantly, they learned how to apply the knowledge they’ve gained at FSC to help improve the lives of animals and the people around them. This kind of opportunity is crucial for providing practical knowledge and hands-on experiences to our students who will go on to become the next generation of veterinarians, animal caretakers, and animal scientists! 

Congrats to Marine Biology Major Coral Tolman (Class of 2026) for being selected to participate in a summer internship experience in Alaska!

For the internship portion of the NOAA Hollings Scholarship, Coral will be working on the project “Improving Sustainable Aquaculture in Alaska.” She will assist with a variety of projects including genetic selection of oysters, early warning of harmful algal blooms, habitat provisions of kelp farms, and oyster response to temperature and harmful algal blooms. Most of the summer will be spent at NOAA Ted Stevens Marine Lab in Juneau. She is most excited for the two weeks she will spend at Little Port Walter, which is only accessible by float plane. 

Applications are open for sophomores to apply to this scholarship, click the link. Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

STUDENTS PRESENT AT CONFERENCE IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Last week, Dr. Durland brought students to the Annual Meeting of the Florida Chapter of
the American Fisheries Society in St. Augustine. All three students gave amazing
presentations on research they conducted at FSC and had a great time networking with
fisheries professionals and graduate students. Pictured: Sierra Robertson gave an oral
presentation on her senior research evaluating Central Florida fish communities, Molly
Kennedy gave a poster presentation on her research investigating tapeworms in Bull
Sharks, and Brady Huber gave an oral presentation on the updates to the long-term
monitoring of the Bull Shark population in Hillsborough Bay (we also honored an
Elasmobranch Lab alumnus by naming a shark after her!).

DR. BRANDON AND BIOLOGY STUDENTS ATTEND SOCIETY OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY MEETING

This past January, several Biology students along with Dr. Chris Brandon attended the annual national meeting hosted by the
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) in Seattle, Washington. The national meeting was attended by approximately three thousand members from all over the United States and beyond. SICB is a large organization with a broad-based membership of scientists and student scientists who study a diverse range of things from whale vision to lobster hearts. This year, our students were able to present their summer research! Most importantly, not only do these conferences allow our students to showcase their amazing research, but they also provide the opportunity to connect with other students and scientists on a much grander scale. 

Here's what our wonderful students had to say:

"The opportunity to attend SICB has allowed me to explore several fields of study ranging from animal cognition in elephants to
bioluminescence in deep-sea fish. I was able to learn about different research and talk directly to those involved like Dr. Pamela
Brannock and her microbial research in Florida Mangroves. It offered me the ability to network with scientists of all levels and form
beneficial contacts. I was also able to present my research on the relative eye growth in Daphnia and gain feedback from a wide
range of perspectives."

-Alia Whiles, studies Daphnia (small crustacean) eyes

"I really enjoyed my experience at my first conference where I was able to present my research that I conducted this past summer.
During my week in Seattle, I was able to hear about many different talks and seminars that were presented at the conference which covered an endless variety of topics. In addition, I was able to network with fellow scientists in the field and learn about the research they are conducting across the world. I am very thankful for this whole experience and the opportunity to represent [FSC]."

-Lexi Trevillian, studies coral reef ecology 

"Attending SICB in Seattle was a very valuable experience. It allowed me to receive feedback and critique on my honors project
which I have already begun to use to make improvements for my third and final edition of my zine. I was also able to connect with
another undergraduate who has used zines in an academic context and discuss our projects more in-depth! As a graduating senior the conference was also a valuable networking opportunity which has led to a lead on a potential job when I graduate this spring!"

-Zaph Yost, studies right whale education

"My SICB experience was invaluable as an undergraduate student pursuing a career in research.  I attended many interesting talks and sessions, absorbing as much information as I could. I also had the opportunity to network with other students and scientists interested in the same topics and organisms as me at different socials. Lastly, I enjoyed presenting the research I completed this summer at an internship during one of the poster sessions. I am so grateful to FSC and its biology professors, without them I would not have been able to attend this conference."

-Jaclyn McFadden, studies coral reef ecology

"Attending SICB this year was extremely beneficial to me as I think about my future career and head towards graduate school. I was able to take advantage of the plethora of networking opportunities at the conference, where I got to meet and get advice from
scientists at various career stages. One of my favorite parts of SICB was attending a workshop on student research opportunities,
internships, and fellowships! The entire experience made me feel so much more excited and prepared for my own future career in
science!"

-Sophi Brice, studies rose genomics

Next year, several biology faculty and students are planning to attend SICB in 2025, which is being held next door in Atlanta,
Georgia. Our Mocs are unlocking nature's secrets and are on the move!

DR. CHRIS BRANDON HOSTS AN FSC JUNIOR JOURNEY TRIP TO SANTIAGO, CHILE

This past spring, Biology professor, Dr. Chris Brandon, led his first FSC Junior Journey to Santiago, Chile! Dr. Brandon co-directed the trip with his wife, Dr. Legna Torres Garcia, who were accompanied by seven amazing students from across different majors. As part of the FSC Junior Journey program, junior/senior students are offered the opportunity to travel abroad with a FSC faculty member to experience different places and cultures. During this trip, they stayed in Santiago, Chile, one of the largest cities in South America, which resides between the coastal waters of the South Pacific Ocean and the Southern portion of the Andes mountain range. They experienced the beautiful culture of the Chilean people, learned Chilean History, and experienced the amazing cityscapes and landscapes of the Santiago region. On one eventful trip, they rode horseback through the Andes mountains around 6000 feet above sea level. They concluded the evening by watching the stars of the Southern Hemisphere while enjoying Chilean barbeque. 

Needless to say, the students had a grand time, as one student commented:

"The experience of fully immersing myself into the culture of Chile is something that I will remember forever. This trip has changed a lot of perspectives for me, and I am incredibly honored and grateful that I had this opportunity."

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS PAIRED WITH PEER MENTORS TAUGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AT ROBERTS ACADEMY 

"[The] presentation was the most rewarding part of taking this course. I was really nervous about
teaching kids because I don't have experience in that but their engagement was so encouraging and it
made the lab super fun. It was definitely a new experience and something I would've never had the
chance to, or wanted to do, without this course." 

Drs. Brandon and Gallagher plan on offering the course again this upcoming fall semester. We can't wait
to see what our students will do next! Our bio students are definitely Mocs on the Move!

THREE STUDENTS FROM DR. MACRANDER'S LAB REPRESENTED FSC AT THE BENTHIC ECOLOGY MEETING (BEM) IN CHARLESTON, S.C.

Three students from Dr. Jason Macrander’s lab represented Florida Southern College at the Benthic Ecology Meeting (BEM) in Charleston, South Carolina. BEM aims to foster research in benthic ecosystems, facilitate the exchange of information about benthic ecology, and promote student engagement to nurture the next generation of benthic ecologists. This conference provided an invaluable opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in a diverse range of research topics aligned with their interests, fostering collaboration and idea exchange among peers.

During the meeting, held from April 10 - 13, each student presented their own scientific research poster, showcasing work conducted during the Summer 2023 as Hansen Research Scholars.

Reflecting on her experience, Coral Tolman (Marine Biology ‘26) shared, “BEM introduced me to the post-grad academia world. I was able to talk and learn from individuals who are on or have completed the post-grad path I wish to pursue. It also was my first experience presenting to individuals of a similar interest field who asked great questions and gave me many ideas for further studies.”

Sophia Kuklina (Biotechnology ‘26) approached the conference from an alternative perspective, stating, “While there were a lot of marine biology talks that definitely improved my knowledge in this sphere, I also found some talks in my main area of interest - biotechnology. For example, I learned how eDNA and eco-engineering are applied to the marine biology field. In addition, I had my first experience presenting my research poster at the conference. It boosted my speaking and performance skills and made me more comfortable in professional situations.”

Wyatt Rudd (Marine Biology & Environmental Studies ‘26) reflected, “Attending the 2024 Benthic Ecology Meeting gave me my first-ever opportunity to present and discuss my research with scientists on a regional scale. Doing so further reinforced my passion for science and allowed me to be a part of the scientific community in a way that I had never experienced before. Through attending other presentations, the conference exposed me to a variety of scientific topics and issues, which has given me guidance as I seek my future in science.”

Tropical Ecology : Coral Reef Ecology & Marine Conservation spends spring break in Roatan Honduras

FSC students in the Tropical Ecology: Coral Reef Ecology & Marine Conservation course spent their spring break exploring the fringing and barrier reefs of Roatán, Honduras with Dr. Jason Macrander and Prof. Ashley Bowers-Macrander. Students practiced identification of the major coral species found in the reefs around the Bay Islands and collected data, using transects, to student their ecology. Students were also able to take part in the maintenance of a coral nursery and outplanting of the critically endangered staghorn coral.

When not focusing on corals, students were able to observe the amazing biodiversity of Roatán, including sharks, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, dolphins, and an abundance of fish species. They were also able to experience the culture of the island, particularly that of the Mayan, Payan, and Garífuna peoples.

During the trip, students worked closely with Jennifer Keck, the Education & Research Coordinator for the Roatán Institute for Marine Science (RIMS). RIMS was established in 1989 by the owners of Anthony’s Key Resort with the goal of preserving the area’s natural resources through education and research.