Summertime is always an anticipated time on campus. Unlike what most people think most of the research done at a university is completed during the summer. Not having meetings, seminars, teaching responsibilities gives faculty and grad students time to go collect samples and go on cruises, write and more. It is very common for OEAS to be out at sea or out in the field during the summer. This means that summer can be bustling with energy and science being done everywhere, or a ghost town where everyone is out collecting data. This week we made sure that the rest of the REU students had a chance to meet their faculty mentors for the summer. It is very important that they work with their faculty members as soon as possible so that the can get started on their prospectus presentation. The following week we will be going on the ODUs research vessel where some of the students will be collecting samples for their research projects. Therefore, they need time to learn the sampling techniques before we go out. This second week of an REU is also important to tie up any loose ends. To make sure that students have a space to work, and do not have any issues on campus with housing or dining.
From this week forward we will be having weekly seminars for the REU students. Most weeks this will take place on Thursday. This week the seminar was given by Michelle Covi. Michelle Covi is an assistant professor of practice in the Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department at Old Dominion University and is one of the Virginia Sea Grant extension staff, helping to connect expertise in our universities to address climate change and sea level rise adaptation issues. She has a PhD in Coastal Resources Management from East Carolina University and focuses her research on climate change and sea level rise risk perception, communication and public participation in regional decision-making. Dr. Covi talked to the students about local issues with sea level in our area and how citizens interact with the science. The REU students seemed shocked to see some of the flooding that happens almost daily around the ODU campus. Our REU students will get to see the impacts of climate change first hand while they are here at ODU.
