Shevonne O'Connor
Biology Major
Tropical Coral and Coralline Algae Conservation
With the help of Lynk funding, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute station in Bocas del Toro, Panama. While I was there, I worked with post-doc Maggie Johnson on her ocean acidification projects, doing research in the lab and the field. We worked mainly with coralline algae and coral species. In Panama, and, indeed, all over the world, tropical coral reefs are quickly disappearing from our oceans because of rising ocean acidification and bleaching, with humans directly to blame. The importance of the existence of reef ecosystems can only be likened to that of tropical rain forests. If we are going to save the planet, we need to save our reefs. In my presentation, I will take you on a journey to the Caribbean paradise I called home this summer and show you what it was like to be a research assistant in the tropical research field for the first time.