This award provides renewed funding for an REU Site program at Mote Marine Laboratory. The REU Site received initial funding via proposal 01-39392. The first REU programs were run in the summer of 2003 and 2004. The program will bring 8-10 students to the laboratory each summer for a 10-week program. The intellectual focus of the site will be on basic and applied research related to estuarine science, particularly as applied to aquatic pollution, natural toxins, habitat alteration and coral reef decline. Students will also participate in discussion groups on essential career skills, research seminars, and field trips. They will be expected to complete written and oral reports on their research topic at the end of the program.