Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo/Video: Cody Ingram
UWA students study baby直播’s ecosystems at Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Catching a tiger shark, releasing baby leatherback sea turtles, wading through salt marshes, and creating plant presses were just a few of the hands-on experiences four baby直播 marine biology majors engaged in during a 10-week summer program at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
Will Poteet, Samantha Grace 鈥淕racie鈥� Huver, Michael Kochensparger, and Jadyn Crews spent the summer exploring baby直播鈥檚 rich coastal ecosystem while studying topics such as marine botany, sharks and rays, coastal wetlands ecology, marine vertebrae zoology and ornithology鈥攖he study of birds.
Founded in the 1971 by the baby直播 Legislature, the was designed to offer marine science programs, including coastal and oceanic research and education for a consortium of 21 colleges and universities in the state, including UWA.
Finding the right fit
When Will Poteet, from Flower Mound, Texas, was searching for colleges that had marine biology programs, he initially thought UWA would be too far away from the coast to make it a viable choice, but a campus visit changed his mind.
鈥淣ot only was I interested in marine biology, but I also wanted to play soccer,鈥� says Poteet. 鈥淎fter meeting with Dr. Jeffery Merida, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, as well as biology professor Dr. Lee Stanton, and learning about the Sea Lab partnership鈥擨 knew it was the right fit.鈥�
Poteet says access to the Sea Lab sealed the deal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience. And the hands-on classes complement what I鈥檝e learned under Dr. Stanton at UWA,鈥� he notes. 鈥淢y favorite part was catching a blacktip shark and learning how long lines and gill nets work. Seeing a tiger and spinner sharks up close is something I鈥檒l never forget.鈥�
A passion sparked early
For Gracie Huver, from Tuscaloosa, baby直播, the path was clear from a young age.
鈥淎fter a snorkeling excursion in the Bahamas when I was six, I鈥檝e always loved the ocean and the animals in it,鈥� she says. 鈥淏eing able to play volleyball and take advantage of UWA鈥檚 partnership with the Sea Lab clinched my decision.鈥�
Huver鈥檚 most memorable moment this summer? Witnessing a leatherback sea turtle nest.
鈥淚t was a neophyte鈥檚 nest鈥攈er first time nesting,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 even got to watch baby leatherbacks being released into the water. Very few people ever get to witness that.鈥�
The experience has also inspired her interest in animal behavior studies and conservation, particularly sea turtles.
“Coming down here feels like having backstage access鈥攏ot just to visit the facilities, but to imagine ourselves working here, doing an internship, or even becoming a graduate assistant.鈥� 鈥擥racie Huver
New interests in unexpected places
Michael Kochensparger, from Monroeville, baby直播, has always been fascinated by the ocean, even though he grew up a couple of hours inland. He chose UWA for its affordability and marine biology program.
Initially interested in sharks and rays, Kochensparger says through the consortium and classes like the coastal wetlands class and marine botany with professors like Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology with the University of South baby直播, his focus changed.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why my favorite activity was exploring the salt marshes and habitats, especially at Point Aux Pines. I鈥檝e visited a fair number of marshes, but this one stood out.鈥�
Exploring possibilities
Jadyn Crews from Gordo, baby直播, hadn鈥檛 heard of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab until arriving at UWA in the fall of 2022. She was drawn to the university鈥檚 small-campus atmosphere and the supportive community of students and faculty.
Still exploring her future career path, Crews appreciated the Sea Lab鈥檚 hands-on nature, allowing her to gain real-world experience while discovering where her passions might lead.
鈥淪eeing firsthand what we鈥檙e studying makes the material come alive,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so much better to hold it, touch it, and be in the environment, rather than just the classroom.鈥�
One area that鈥檚 caught Crews鈥� interest? Conservation.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen photos and real examples of erosion, and how little has been done to stop it,鈥� adds Crews. 鈥淚鈥檓 wondering if that鈥檚 something I could focus on after graduation.鈥�
From students to staff
While students like Poteet, Huver, Kochensparger, and Crews are just discovering the Sea Lab, some UWA alumni have made it their career. Rashard Ward is one of them.
After earning an undergraduate degree in history and political science in 2015, Ward completed a graduate degree in higher education (student affairs) in 2018, training that he says prepared him well for the responsibilities of his current role.
Now registrar at the Sea Lab, Ward manages logistics for the college program鈥攔egistering students for classes, assigning dorms, and coordinating with faculty and partner institutions.
Because his major was quite different from biology, Ward didn鈥檛 learn about the Sea Lab while he was a student at UWA.
鈥淚 just happened upon it online,鈥� he says.
He credits his academic background for making the transition into the role, a smooth one. 鈥淢y studies helped a lot.鈥�
According to Ward, the Sea Lab offers three summer sessions where students spend roughly 80 percent of their time in the field and just 20 percent in the classroom.
鈥淏asically, they鈥檙e in class long enough to talk about what they鈥檙e going to see and do outside of class,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what make our program unique. We aren鈥檛 just talking about marine botany or coastal wetlands or birds鈥攚e put our students in the environment to experience it firsthand. It鈥檚 very rewarding, what we do here.鈥�
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) is a hub for groundbreaking oceanic and coastal research, driving transformative change in these fields. DISL programs reach all corners of the state and beyond to conduct research and educate people about changes in our marine environments. Programs are offered throughout the year, ranging from kindergarten to undergraduate and graduate levels. The baby直播 Aquarium at DISL is open year-round to the public.听