We are delighted to announce that the next Individual Environmental Science merit badge program will be held at NJSGC on Sunday, May 5 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) and the Individual Oceanography merit badge program on Saturday, May 11 (10:00 am– 2:00 pm). The fee is $45.00/scout for each class; adults are free. Continue reading for more information!
*** NOTICE *** ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FOR MAY 2019 IS NOW FULL
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MERIT BADGE
In this interactive program at Sandy Hook, scouts will learn the basics of environmental science as we explore various aspects of the maritime environment. Through seining (net and boots provided), we will learn what lives in Sandy Hook Bay and about aquatic-based food webs. Hiking through the salt marsh, we will learn about its ecology through birding, plant identification, tidal impacts, water chemistry tests, and conduct a vegetation survey. We will study the effects of pollution on various environments both at the beach and in the laboratory, including simulated oil spills and acid rain, and discover how waves and tides affect pollution. Scouts will learn about biodegradable materials. We will study ocean acidification and soil erosion effects and analyze an Environmental Impact Statement. All badge requirements will be covered in one day except #4A. If scouts choose to, they may finish the badge by writing a lab report for Requirement 4A using vegetation data collected at the marsh. A pre-program activity packet is sent to each troop leader before the program, including an Environmental Science Worksheet which scouts MUST complete and bring with them to the scheduled program. This program is conducted by NJSGC educators who are certified merit badge counselors. The program runs approximately five hours and scouts will need transportation to the marsh site.
OCEANOGRAPHY MERIT BADGE
In a fun “hands on” ocean experience at Sandy Hook, Boy Scouts can complete all badge Requirements (except #8) of the Oceanography Merit badge in one day, with the help of a NJSGC Instructor. Scouts will explore the salt marsh and discover why the ocean is important to people. Activities include measuring beach water quality, studying waves and currents, viewing worldwide sand samples under the microscope, plankton collection and identification, laboratory experiments, and seining in Sandy Hook Bay. If scouts choose to, they can complete Requirement #8 (and the badge) by writing a 500-word report about their visit to NJSGC or give a 5-minute speech about Oceanography to their troop. A pre-program activity packet is sent to each troop leader before the program. It includes a mandatory Oceanography Worksheet and directions on how to make a plankton net. The packet and plankton net MUST be completed and brought to the scheduled program. This program is conducted by NJSGC educators who are also certified merit badge counselors. The program runs approximately four hours and scouts will need transportation to the marsh site.
Registration is mandatory and can be found on our website. The completed registration form goes directly to NJSGC’s Scout Program Coordinator Jody Sackett. Following registration, you will receive a confirmation along with payment instructions. Please feel free to contact Ms. Sackett at 732-872-1300 x20 with any further questions, and we look forward to seeing your scout here at NJSGC on Sandy Hook!
It’s time to “chill out” and catch up with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium! We hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season, but now let’s get ready to “spring forward.” Check out some highlights from this edition of the COASTodian:
NJSGC
revamped its rip current awareness program, and we’re currently looking for
more student participation. Learn how to get your local school or library
involved.
The
16th annual Ocean Fun Days takes place May 18-19th, so be sure to join our
official Facebook event
page
for special highlights and updates.
Former
NJSGC fellow Dr. Christopher Free was recently featured in a New York Times article… continue reading
to find out why!
Interested
in a job where you get to explore Sandy Hook while teaching children about
marine science? NJSGC’s hiring part-time
field instructors, with no experience necessary!
Barracks building 22 restored // Executive Director Claire Antonucci cuts the ribbon for NJSGC’s grand opening at Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, NJ on July 12th, 2010. From left: Dr. Howard Parish (NJSGC Board of Trustees), Pete McCarthy (Unit Coordinator; NPS), Sean T. Kean (former State Senator; 2008-2012), Claire Antonucci (NJSGC Executive Director), Guy Hembling (Charles B. Hembling and Son, construction firm), Deborah Quinn (NJSGC Office Manager) Credit: Marsha Samuel (former NJSGC Communications Specialist) https://www.nps.gov/gate/barracks-building-22-restored.htm
Plus so much more! And as always, be sure to check out what’s new and get involved by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
NJSGC is currently seeking research projects to be funded for the program’s 2021-2023 Omnibus. According to Sea Grant Program Associate Diana Burich, 40 pre-proposals were recently received, each including one principal investigator (PI) and potentially one or more co-principal investigators (Co-PIs). Of those 40 submitted, 17 are new PIs applying through NJSGC. Several institutions are represented, including Drexel University, Monmouth University, Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Stockton University, and The College of New Jersey.
This year, NJSGC’s Technical Review Panel (TRP) includes 11 experts specialized in various fields. The TRP will review all pre-proposals and invite PIs to submit full proposals on April 2nd. The panel will then evaluate proposals during the summertime alongside a team of external peers, with comments provided by Stakeholder Advisory Board members and extension staff.
Full proposals are due by June 17th, 2019. Awards are determined in September, with NSGO finalization and a public announcement made in October.
Join NJSGC and New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) for our 16th annual Ocean Fun Days! This popular two-day event takes place on Saturday, May 18th at Island Beach State Park and Sunday, May 19th at Sandy Hook from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. both days, rain or shine. FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL!
Join the official FACEBOOK EVENT page for more exciting updates and behind-the-scenes info!
Also please visit the OFD website for more information and directions.
Enjoy hands-on marine and environmental programs and exhibits. There will be giveaways and plenty of excitement, plus fun ways to learn about our coastal environment and energy conservation for the whole family to enjoy.
Learn how to use a seine net to catch native fish, crabs, and other marine creatures. Grab a fishing rod and join the youth fishing clinic. Test your boating safety knowledge or become a beachcomber and search for natural treasures on a guided tour. Hear firsthand from New Jersey scientists and researchers all about the inner-workings of the ocean and the coastline and how to protect them for generations to come.
On Sunday at Sandy Hook, the NOAA Marine Fisheries Lab building will be open to the public, with many interactive exhibits as well as scientists and researchers on hand to share with you their exciting work. This only happens just once a year!
Don’t miss out on these two days of Free Family Fun!
NJSGC would like to congratulate former National Marine Fisheries Service/Sea Grant “Population and Ecosystem Dynamics” fellow Christopher Free on recently having part of his PhD dissertation published in the acclaimed peer-reviewed academic journal, Science magazine. A brief abstract from Free’s “Impacts of Historical Warming on Marine Fisheries Production” states:
Climate change is altering habitats for marine fishes
and invertebrates, but the net effect of these changes on potential food
production is unknown. We used temperature-dependent population models to
measure the influence of warming on the productivity of 235 populations of 124
species in 38 eco-regions. Some populations responded significantly positively
and others responded significantly negatively to warming, with the direction
and magnitude of the response explained by eco-region, taxonomy, life history,
and exploitation history. Hindcasts indicate that the maximum sustainable yield
of the evaluated populations decreased by 4.1% from 1930 to 2010, with five
ego-regions experiencing losses of 15 to 35%. Outcomes of fisheries management
– including long-term food provisioning – will be improved by accounting for
changing productivity in a warmer ocean.
Free’s work was also featured in a New York Times article entitled “The World is Losing Fish to Eat as Oceans Warm, Study Finds.”
According to Trevor Branch, an associate professor at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (who was not involved in the study), “This is going to be one of those groundbreaking studies that gets cited over and over again… Most of what I’ve seen before in terms of climate-change impacts have been speculative, in terms of, ‘We think this is what’s going to happen in the future.’ This one’s different.”
Sending our congratulations from New Jersey – we’re so proud of you Chris! Formerly of Rutgers University, Free’s now a postdoctoral researcher with the Sustainable Fisheries Group at UC Santa Barbara.
The Education Department of NJSGC hires part-time seasonal field instructors for their K-12 marine science education program. Following a paid training period, you will lead school groups on hands-on, interactive explorations of Sandy Hook’s salt marsh and barrier beach environments. Experience is not necessary however a background in marine science or education is helpful.
Interested candidates should email resumes to: Rosemary Higgins at rhiggins@njseagrant.org or mail resume to:
Rosemary Higgins New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium 22 Magruder Road Fort Hancock, NJ 07732
Each Interstate Marine Fisheries Commission is making approximately $850,000 available annually for the funding period of August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2024 (dependent on appropriations). The funding goal is to form Research Consortiums that will focus on oyster genetics, disease, environmental interactions, regulatory challenges and, economic modeling. Additionally, regional partnerships are encouraged to classify and preserve natural genetic variation in oysters.
Deadline: Pre-proposals must be submitted as a single file by e-mail no later than 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, March 15, 2019.
Please see the request for proposals below for complete proposal details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions.
For complete application information on these three opportunities – including links to the FFO’s – please go to the National Sea Grant website. For questions and to discuss a potential application, please contact Dr. Peter Rowe. Please note that on Monday, March 4 at 3 pm Eastern, there will be a webinar about the three aquaculture opportunities.Register or join the webinar using this link.
Below is a summary of each opportunity. Please note that the first two offerings must be submitted through a Sea Grant program.
Sea Grant anticipates at least $9,000,000 will be available to support the establishment of collaborative programs to build the capacity of Sea Grant and its partners to advance aquaculture in areas where a foundation of knowledge and activity currently exists but where significant barriers to sustainable domestic marine and Great Lakes aquaculture remain. These collaborative programs will serve as geographic or topic-based hubs for fully integrated, transdisciplinary research, outreach, and education that will provide broad, non-proprietary support and investment for building and/or enhancing an aquaculture industry.
Letters of Intent are due April 15, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
Full proposals are due May 15, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
Proposals to this competition must be submitted by a Sea Grant Program.
Exploring New Aquaculture Opportunities – 2019, NOAA-OAR-SG-2019-2005960
Sea Grant anticipates $1,500,000 will be available to support Sea Grant-led aquaculture projects to catalyze work in a range of topics or geographies. This competition will fund diverse, and at times, high-risk, developmental projects that will envision, explore and advance aquaculture opportunities where a minimal foundation currently exists.
Letters of intent are due March 26, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
Full proposals are due April 24, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
Proposals to this competition must be submitted by a Sea Grant Program.
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research Needs in Aquaculture – 2019, NOAA-OAR-SG-2019-2005953
The National Sea Grant Office anticipates around $3,000,000 will be available to support research to address critical gaps in social, behavioral, and economic knowledge as it relates to U.S. aquaculture and the communities impacted and served by it. The initiative is informed by the National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research; the Sea Grant 10-Year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision; and previous research from federal, state, and university scientists.
Letters of intent are due April 2, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
Full proposals are due May 1, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
The following entities are eligible and encouraged to participate in this funding opportunity: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof.
We look forward to assiting you with your applications and to successful outcomes.
Project description: Bivalve aquaculture is one of the most important sectors of the aquaculture industry in the US and around the world. Bivalve aquaculture is environmentally friendly, family or community-based, and important to the socioeconomic well-being of coastal areas. The industry has been growing steadily and has the potential for significantly more growth. Yet, significant barriers to the growth of bivalve aquaculture in our region include the lack of oyster stocks well-adapted to high-salinity environments and alternative crops such as bay scallops and surfclams that can reach harvestable size before the onset of major mortalities. This project intends to address these challenges through selective breeding of stocks in collaboration with industry partners. Specific objectives are to:
1) Develop superior eastern oyster stocks for high-salinity environments; 2) Improve growth of bay scallops to enable within-year harvest; 3) Develop surfclams with fast growth and heat tolerance to enable early harvest; 4) Transfer project results to NJ and regional shellfish farmers.
Duties: The intern would be trained in bivalve husbandry, marine field work, data collection and management, and preliminary statistical inference. Husbandry duties include spawning and monitoring adult broodstock, rearing larvae and juveniles, and maintaining the tanks and other equipment necessary for bivalve culture operations. Marine field work activities include deploying and monitoring bivalves at partnering farms and supporting other on-going projects. Data collection activities include tracking bivalve growth and survival and collecting water quality parameters. Other duties will include data entry and preliminary data analysis. Most of this work will take place in a seawater laboratory, and many tasks will require wet and messy physical labor.
Requirements: A valid driver’s license and a personal vehicle to use for the entirety of the internship; the ability to work outdoors in adverse conditions during hours that correspond to tides and weather patterns; the ability to lift 40 lbs; computer knowledge, including Microsoft Excel; Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills; Enrollment in/ or the completion of a Bachelor’s degree program in a scientific discipline.
Location: Most work will occur at the NJ Aquaculture Innovation Center (AIC), but some work may occur at other Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory facilities (Cape Shore Lab in Green Creek, NJ, and the Bivalve Lab in Port Norris, NJ). Some field work will take place at bivalve farms located across the southern NJ coast.
Other information: A stipend will be provided for the duration (10 weeks, June-Aug) of the internship. Dormitory space may also be available at the Cape Shore Lab (≈15-min drive from the AIC).
Interested applicants: Please send a resume and short (1-2 paragraph) letter of interest to the project coordinator Michael Acquafredda.
NOAA recently announced that the deadline for NMFS/Sea Grant fellowship funding opportunities is now EXTENDED!
Applications for the 2019 NMFS/Sea Grant Fellowship Program in both Population and Ecosystem Dynamics AND Marine Resource Economics are now due to local Sea Grant offices by Thursday, February 28th, 2019 (5pm EST). The previous deadline was set for January 30th, 2019.
