Marine Mavens in the Field: Sediment Sampling
What is Marine Mavens?
Marine Maven is a program at NESS where we aim to introduce our 12-17-year-old “mavens” to different aspects of the seafaring industry and STEM through sailing, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, powerboating, safety certifications and skills, and field trips to local ocean-related businesses. Our field trip adventures give an inside look at the seafaring industry and highlight women on the water.
Sediment Sampling and Ecosystem Monitoring with Alex Frenzel
Recently, as part of the program, we embarked on a field trip to Barn Island to collect sediment samples. Accompanying us was Alex Frenzel, who guided the group of young women throughout the process.
Alex is currently pursuing a master's degree in oceanography at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus. With an undergraduate background in marine sciences and experience working in a genomics lab, Alex made a significant shift post-graduation by becoming a lab technician in Dr. Craig Tobias' stable isotopes lab. This role led to a month-long research cruise that ultimately provided the sample collection for Alex’s master's thesis. Alex's current research focuses on understanding how sediments influence the ocean acidification conditions of the overlying water. Looking ahead, Alex plans to continue research in a PhD program, investigating nitrogen removal and carbon sequestration dynamics in marsh ecosystems.
Alex provided our students with valuable hands-on learning experiences by teaching them about sediment systems and ecosystem monitoring, allowing them to engage directly with real-world environmental science concepts.
