Written by Sean Beckwith, PhD student
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Oceanography Camp for Girls, which held its 25th anniversary last year, has just graduated another class of aspiring scientists and environmentally conscious thinkers. The three-week camp teaches girls about science by having them be the scientist. Hands-on work in the field and laboratory, as well as a strong focus on careers, gives participants a holistic view of what it means to be a scientist and what a future STEM career might look like. Under the leadership of Dr. Teresa Greely and Dr. Angela Lodge and the teaching and mentoring of the graduate students of the College of Marine Science (CMS), the girls learn the social and technical aspects of working in science.
Faculty members and researchers of CMS and scientists from the community fulfilled additional teaching roles and provided the girls further career insight. Field excursions included Fort Desoto, Shell Key, Caladesi Island, Clam Bayou, Sea World and a research cruise aboard the R/V Angari. Laboratory rotations throughout CMS demonstrated concepts from microbiology, advanced microscopy, seawater analysis, satellite remote sensing, fish physiology, marine medical services, ROV techniques, beach profiling, and geological sedimentary analysis. The scientists put an exclamation on their camp experience with presentations of their projects at a ceremony held in FWC-FWRI’s Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium.