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OCEAN SPRINGS – College students applying
for the 2006 Summer Field Program at the University of Southern
Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) will have
a firsthand look at Gulf of Mexico plants, animals and habitats
post-Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina inflicted an estimated $298 million in losses
on Southern Miss along the Gulf Coast, including the GCRL's
estimated $50 million in lost facilities, instrumentation and
research. GCRL's march toward recovery, however, includes a
full summer session of field courses at the Ocean Springs campus.
"Students will have the opportunity to explore the northern
Gulf -- from sharks, dolphins and whales to marine ecology,"
said Dr. Jeffrey Lotz, chair of coastal sciences, the Southern
Miss department that is headquartered at the GCRL and coordinates
the academic program. "The GCRL Summer Field Program is
alive and well, and we are accepting registrations now for summer
2006."
Modular units delivered in December will help replace three
teaching laboratories that the storm swept away near the GCRL
entrance. Restoration of flood-damaged facilities continues
and is nearing completion on the dormitory, dining hall, marine
library and additional classroom facilities.
"Students enrolled at colleges and universities from throughout
the United States as well as local students come to earn college
credit at the GCRL in the summer," Lotz said. "This
summer will mark the 59th year that the Lab has offered marine
field courses. For many of our summer students, a field trip
aboard one of the Laboratory's research vessels is their first
at-sea experience."
Courses offered May 30 - June 27 are marine biology, marine
mammals, shark biology and marine ecology. June 28 - July 28
courses are marine biology, oceanography, marine invertebrate
zoology and marine ichthyology.
Students who attend both terms can earn up to 11 semester hours
of science credit. Options are also available for upperclassmen
to conduct independent research under the direction of a GCRL
scientist.
For information, contact 228.872.4223, dawne.hard@usm.edu,
or www.usm.edu/gcrl/ .
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is part of the university's
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences within the College of Science
and Technology.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is
a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling
its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering
individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition
of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating
a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural
enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern
Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus
and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast;
further information is found at www.usm.edu .
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Last updated:
01/25/06 |
