News & Events
Announcements for Marine & Environmental Sciences
Congratulations to Our Graduates!
Your achievement, which is the result of dedication, tenacity, and hard work, is just the beginning of a future filled with endless possibilities. May you continue to pursue your dreams with courage. The world is yours to explore, and we have no doubt you will make a substantial impact wherever you go. We wish you all the best as you embark on your next adventure.
With Pride and Warm Wishes,
The Faculty and Staff
Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences
Excellence in Action
We Explore. We investigate. We Find Answers.
Teaching the next generation of marine and environmental scientists is our mission. Through experiential learning, our students gain knowledge. Find out what our students are doing and join us in celebrating their successes.
Photo Courtesy of Bria Alford
Photo Courtesy of Olivia Pickett
Photo Courtesy of Olivia Pickett
The members of the Kiel Reese lab hosted the eDNA Source Tracking Toolkit Workshop at the University of South Alabama on April 25, 2025. This workshop guided stakeholders and community partners in implementing the eDNA Source Tracking Toolkit, which is a resource for utilizing eDNA metagenomics as a fecal source tracking tool. This toolkit and workshop are funded by the Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Division grant MX-02D17922. For more information, please visit the Toolkit website https://sites.google.com/view/ednatoolkit/
Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Syphers Lab, Earth Day 2025 was a success. There was a Greek Energy Competition for the month of April, a BioBlitz to document biodiversity on our 1200 acre campus, a nature hike, tree planting, and fishing lessons. Earth Week culminated with a Love Your Community Earth Day Celebration at Chickasabogue Park.
The Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences celebrated outstanding students, donors, and industry partners during the Annual Donor Appreciation Night. The program was held on the first floor of the Education and Outreach Building on the evening of March 26th. Each year, the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences presents the Outstanding Student Award to students demonstrating outstanding performance. There are three categories of awards: undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students. Congratulations to this year’s winners: Olivia Pickett, Marissa Hall, Joe Hansen, and Christa Russell.
Heck Award Winner:
Olivia Pickett, Undergraduate
Honorable Mention:
Marissa Hall, Undergraduate
Pictured from left:
Olivia Pickett, Marissa Hall
Nelson Award Winner:
Joe Hansen, Master's Student
Pictured from left:
Joe Hansen,Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael
Shipp Award Winner:
Christa, Russell, Ph.D. student
Pictured from left:
Christa Russell, Dr. Lee Smee
Charting New Waters
When our faculty are not teaching, they are advancing knowledge through groundbreaking
research, innovative projects, and peer reviewed publications. Their tireless work
contributes to the future of marine and environmental sciences and enriches the academic
community. Explore the latest news and join us in celebrating their accomplishments.
