This award provides renewed funding for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL. The program will support ten students each summer during a ten week summer research program. The intellectual focus of the Mote REU Program is on estuarine science, particularly basic and applied research on the biological and chemical features of estuaries. The integrating theme of the program is to address major threats to coastal habitats, including aquatic pollution, harmful algal blooms, habitat alteration, coral reef decline. Students will conduct independent research and report their findings in a research paper and an oral seminar presentation. They will participate in seminars on scientific writing, preparing oral presentations, graduate school preparation, and career options in oceanography.
