At this year’s Pier Open House, visitors got a glimpse into the tiny, fascinating microorganisms that drift through our coastal waters. Armed with microscopes and big smiles, the students guided members of the public through the mesmerizing world of plankton. Many students generously volunteered their time and shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for marine science with everyone who stopped by. It was a day filled with curiosity, learning, and a shared appreciation for the wonders of the ocean. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!
Cal Poly Students Present at Ocean Sciences 2024
We were thrilled to bring five Cal Poly students to Ocean Sciences 2024 in New Orleans. Each student presented their research in the fields of biological oceanography or marine chemistry, sharing their findings with scientists from around the world. The conference was an exciting and memorable experience - not only did we have the chance to learn from leading experts, but we also ran into several of our lab alumni. It was a wonderful reminder of the strong connections and ocean community beyond Cal Poly. We’re grateful for these Learn by Doing opportunities that allow our students to engage in professional scientific meetings, gain feedback on their work, and expand their networks. Special thanks to the Frost Fund for providing our students with travel support.
Undergraduate Students Present at CERF Conference
Cal Poly undergraduate students Sedona Fugitt and Kelly Pi presented their work characterizing phytoplankton communities in Morro Bay Estuary at the Coastal Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) conference in Portland. We were joined by lab alumni Nick Soares (currently the Field Coordinator with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program) and Alex Barth (currently finishing up his PhD at the University of South Carolina).
BCSM Undergraduate Student Research Conference
It was another wonderful Bailey College of Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Student Research Conference. Our students enjoyed sharing their work with the Cal Poly community.
Phytoplankton monitoring within the Morro Bay estuary
We recently partnered with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program to expand upon our phytoplankton monitoring within the estuary. We will be tracking the abundance of over 200 phytoplankton species from two sites in Morro Bay - one located in the Front Bay near the Coast Guard T-Pier and another located in the Back Bay at Pasadena Point. Check out the recent blog post on our monitoring program.
Light microscopy images of phytoplankton under the microscope during plankton counts. Photo credit: Nicholas Soares