WINNERS OF MARINE SCIENCES PROJECT PAPERS ANNOUNCED
SOUTHPORT, CT – October 24, 2016 The Education Committee of the American Salvage Association (ASA) and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) announced the winners of their joint Marine Sciences Project Paper Competition for high school and undergraduate students. The awards will be presented at NAMEPA’s Awards Dinner to be held on October 27 at Pier A in New York City. The dinner caps the afternoon North American World Maritime Day conference.
High school and undergraduate students were invited to submit a technical paper describing a project focused on a marine science subject area. Three entries in the high school category and three entries in the undergraduate category received awards. The ASA also granted a special award to an entry submitted by a team of high school and undergraduate students.
“These annual industry awards to high school and undergraduate students have become an excellent opportunity to both reward students for innovative thinking, as well as acquaint them with the marine industry”, said Doug Martin of Smit Salvage Americas who coordinated the program for both organizations. “The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of the submissions, making the selection of just six a difficult process.”
All winning entries will receive recognition in industry publications. The winners in each category are invited to receive their awards at NAMEPA’s Awards Dinner on October 27 in New York City.
Winners, High School Category
1st Place: Alexandra Kelly, Grade 12, The Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Highlands, New Jersey
“The effects of arclor on the prey consumption rate of the larval Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhynchus”
2nd Place: Andrew Yu, Grade 9, The Academy of Science and Technology, Conroe, Texas
“Increasing Cutinase Activity: Using Site-Specific Saturation Mutagenesis to Improve a Polymer-Degrading Enzyme”
3rd Place: Stephen Grabowski, Grade 11, The Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
“Dethiosulfovibrio Strain F2b, a New Non-Thiosulfate Reducing Bacterium that Degrades Mariculture Waste”
Winners, Undergraduate Category
1st Place: Alex Mesher, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
“Investigating potential phenotypic markers of molt stage cycle in Metacarcinus Magister for effective fisheries management (Dungeness Crabs)”
2nd Place: Honour Shore Ai Lin Booth, Kapi’olani Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii
“The Sunscreen Sheen: An Assessment of the Presence and Quantity of Organic UV-Filters in the Nearshore Waters of Waikiki”
3rd Place: Rebecca Maher, Rice University, Houston, Texas
“Assessing the distribution and impact of the bioeroding barnacle (Lithotrya dorsalis) on high coral cover reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (northwest Gulf of Mexico)”
ASA Special Award
Nicolas Orndorff, Grade 11, Ingraham High School, Seattle, Washington
Clara Orndorff, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Alex Miller, Grade 11, Garfield High School, Seattle, Washington
“The AMNO CO ROV Team”
For information about attending the NAMEPA Awards dinner and tickets for the conference, go to www.namepa.net/upcoming-events or call (203) 255-4686. Admittance is by reservation only and is limited.
About the American Salvage Association Education Committee
The American Salvage Association’s (ASA) Education Committee is committed to promoting general maritime industry interest with a focus on marine salvage, and to help develop maritime industry expertise through interactive experience with ASA salvage professionals.
The Committee’s goal is to support career development in all maritime disciplines inclusive of, but not limited to, the development of both licensed and unlicensed seafarers, encouragement for licensed officers to reach senior officer status and to gain experience at sea. For non-seafarers, the promotion of math, sciences, engineering, naval architecture, diving, environmental sciences, robotics, marine insurance, maritime law, ocean engineering, accounting, logistics, and other related fields is a focus of the Committee. For more information, go to www.americansalvage.org.
About the North American Marine Environment Protection Association
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. For more information, go to www.namepa.net.
