With the publication of the current administration’s budget calling Sea Grant part of the “lower priority, and in many cases, unauthorized” parts of NOAA, we here at DSN are highlighting people who are supported by Sea Grant. If you would like to share your story with us about why #IAmSeaGrant, please send it to us.
Nyssa Silbiger is a postdoc at UC Irvine and starting faculty at Cal State Northridge this fall (YES!). You can find her on Twitter at @nsilbiger
My Ph.D research was supported through funding from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program. Were it not for Sea Grant I quite literally might not have my PhD. Funding from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program allowed me to complete my research, gain unique hands-on training in science communication, and have an opportunity to share my research with the community and local decision makers. Because of Sea Grant, I developed a novel way to monitor coral reefs, which is now being used throughout the Pacific; collected data to help predict how coral reefs may shift in a High CO2 World; shared my findings with the broader community through local lecture series, school visits, and outreach events; and gained an overall appreciation for how important it is to protect our coastlines. Today, my research focuses on ways to improve coastal resiliency and, ultimately, protect important economic resources. Sea Grant is the cornerstone to my success as a marine scientist and I am certain that it will be a vital part of my research program in the future.
I am Sea Grant.
