News By Date
CC&E Congratulates the Spring Class of 2021!
This semester, the College of the Coast & Environment would like to recognize the persistence, hard work, and commitment of our latest group of graduates.
Coastal Environmental Science Students Awarded at LSU Discover Day
Donated by the College of the Coast & Environment, these awards recognize students with outstanding undergraduate research presented at LSU Discover Day 2021. This year's winners are: • First Place: Jacob Cheng, Can Newly Created Engineered Marshes Help Improve Water Quality in Barataria Bay? • Second Place: Danielle Soileau, The Effect of Pulsed and Chronic Salinity on the Plant Community Dynamics of an Intermediate Marsh • Third Place: Allison Benelli, Decomposition Rates of Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) in Natural and Created Marshes in Coastal Louisiana
The College of the Coast & Environment Congratulates the 2021 Lipsey Scholarships and Awards Recipients
Congratulations to 2021 Lipsey scholarships and awards recipients Danielle Soileau, Gabrielle Carpenter, Megan Arias, and Matt Hiatt. Soileau and Carpenter are graduate students in the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, Arias is a graduate student in the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Hiatt is an assistant professor in Oceanography & Coastal Sciences. Soileau has been awarded the Joseph Lipsey Senior Memorial Scholarship; Carpenter and Arias have been awarded the Richard A. & Joseph Lipsey, Jr. Graduate Student Scholarship Incentive Award; and Hiatt has been awarded the Joseph Lipsey, Jr. & Richard A. Lipsey Excellence in Teaching Award.
CES Student Eva Coman Earns Andrew L. "Drew" Wilbert Memorial Scholarship
This year's recipient of the Andrew L. "Drew" Wilbert Memorial Scholarship is Eva Coman, one of 13 undergraduates from the College of the Coast & Environment who have earned this prestigious scholarship throughout the years. This scholarship recognizes a sophomore, junior, or senior in the Coastal Environmental Science program with greater than a 3.25 GPA.
Announcing the 2021 Recipients of the William H. Patrick, Jr., Scholarship for Wetlands Expertise
The College of the Coast & Environment would like to congratulate Jay Merrill and Benjamin Farmer, the 2021 recipients of the William H. Patrick, Jr., Scholarship for Wetlands Expertise. This award recognizes students in the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences who are studying wetlands and have greater than a 3.5 GPA.
College of the Coast & Environment Graduate Student Symposium Winners Announced
Each semester, the LSU College of the Coast & Environment hosts a graduate student symposium in which students present their research conducted toward the fulfillment of a degree within the college and compete for prizes. This spring, fourteen graduate students participated and first, second, and third place winners were announced. • First Place: Emily Shallow • Second Place: Nazla Bushra • Third Place: Zoë Shribman
Four Coastal and Environment Students Earn Candace Chun Memorial Scholarship
Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of the Candace Chun Memorial Scholarship: graduate student in the Department of Environmental Sciences Ruth Daniel and undergraduate Coastal Environmental Science students Madeline Fryer, Olivia Hurley, and Aine O'Nuanain.
Congratulations to Simone Sale, Tiger Twelve Recipient
Undergraduate Coastal Environmental Sciences senior Simone Sale (Little Rock, Ark.) has been named a member of the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2021. This prestigious honor is awarded to just 12 students each spring by the Office of the Dean of Students for their positive contributions to LSU and the greater community. She is the second CC&E student to be named one of the Tiger Twelve, the first being Brandon Champagne who earned a coveted spot in 2018.
LSU Breaks Record on Number of Students Awarded Prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
A record high of 11 LSU students have been selected for the highly competitive National Science Foundation, or NSF, Graduate Research Fellowship this year, including Benjamin Farmer, a doctoral student in the LSU College of the Coast & Environment. He is modeling the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the U.S. Virgin Islands and researching the connectivity of important fish species in the Mesoamerican Reef region.
Nancy Rabalais Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
LSU College of the Coast & Environment Professor Nancy Rabalais is among the 120 newly elected National Academy of Sciences members recognized for her distinguished achievements in original research. She is also among the 59 women who have been elected, the most women elected in a single year to the National Academy of Sciences.
LSU College of the Coast & Environment Joins Global Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative
Mark Benfield, a professor in the LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, within the College of the Coast & Environment, is partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme, National Geographic Society, the University of Georgia (UGA), and Baton Rouge's Office of the Mayor-President and others as part of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative's, or MRCTI's, mission to combat plastic pollution along one of the world's most vital waterways.
LSU Coast & Environment Graduate Student Awarded Eleanor Earle Memorial Scholarship
On April 24, Kelli Moran, a PhD student in the LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, or DOCS, was one of two graduate students awarded the Eleanor Earle Memorial American Association of University Women, or AAUW, Scholarship from the Baton Rouge Chapter. AAUW is a national nonprofit organization that promotes equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
CC&E's Spring Academic Programs Update
One of our greatest joys is welcoming new students to our college. Our undergraduate program continues to be one of the fastest-growing majors at LSU. With the launch of our new online master’s program in environmental sciences, this year we have welcomed 51 new online graduate students to our CC&E family. The Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences has also started developing an online undergraduate certificate program to continue the expansion and enrichment of our education programs. In Fall 2021, we will welcome the first recipient of the Callais Scholarship for the Advancement of Louisiana Coastal and Marine Industries. The recipient of this, as well as our other scholarship recipients, will be revealed on Friday, April 16.
CC&E's Spring Research Programs Update
I want to congratulate our faculty for their outstanding efforts in forging ahead on current research projects as well as ramping up efforts to bring in new research dollars to the college during these challenging times. These funds are vital for providing educational and research opportunities for our undergraduates and graduate students and clearly highlighting the college as a research leader in Louisiana, across the Gulf, and around the world.
LSU CC&E Professor Awarded at 13th International Symposium on Biogeochemistry of Wetlands, Students Present Research
On March 22-25, the LSU Wetland and Aquatic Biogeochemical Laboratory, or WABL, housed within the LSU College of the Coast & Environment, or CC&E, hosted and sponsored the 13th International Symposium on Biogeochemistry of Wetlands. This virtual scientific symposium was designed to bring together stakeholders who are actively engaged in applying principles of biogeochemistry to solving environmental and social problems. John R. White, associate dean of research for CC&E and director of WABL, served as this year's conference chair.
CC&E Associate Dean One of Three Provost's Fellows Appointed for Academic Affairs
Sibel Bargu Ates, associate dean in the LSU College of the Coast & Environment, or CC&E, has been appointed one of three Provost's Fellows for Academic Affairs alongside Jacqueline Bach in the College of Human Sciences & Education and Jason Hicks in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.
A Dire Future for Coastal Wetlands
A new study, "Coastal Wetland Resilience, Accelerated Sea-Level Rise, and the Importance of Timescale," addresses conflicting results of recent studies as to whether coastal wetlands can keep up with current and future sea-level rise. The research suggests that wetland extent will shrink considerably under high rates of sea-level rise. The report is co-authored by John Day of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment, Torbjörn Törnqvist of Tulane University, Donald R. Cahoon of US Geological Survey, and James Morris of the University of South Carolina.
Undocumented Flounder Population Decline Discovered
Louisiana Sea Grant-funded research has identified a previously undocumented southern flounder population decline that spans the entire species’ range. Southern flounder are an important recreational and commercial coastal flatfish species common to South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states. However, lead researcher Steve Midway, an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, discovered there were few flounder to be found.
Blight May Increase Public Health Risk from Mosquito-borne Diseases
LSU researchers recently published findings that the presence of blight is leading to an increased abundance of disease carrying mosquitoes in low-income Baton Rouge neighborhoods. Rebeca De Jesus Crespo is the lead author and an assistant professor in LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment.
Coast & Environment Assistant Dean Earns LSU Staff Stripes Award
On February 26, Leah Courville, assistant dean of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment, received a Staff Stripes Award from LSU Staff Senate. This award recognizes staff for their exceptional work and dedication to LSU. Courville has worked for LSU for 25 years, spending the past 11 years at the College of the Coast & Environment.
LSU CC&E Professor Named Everyday Hero by Keep Louisiana Beautiful
On February 9, LSU College of the Coast & Environment Professor Mark Benfield was named one of eight 2020 Everyday Heroes by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, or KLB. Benfield was honored with the Golden Can Award, which recognizes a public servant who displays a deep commitment to KLB’s mission in their daily work by going above and beyond the call of duty.
Transcending Boundaries in Louisiana Watershed Management
Scientists in LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment are analyzing Louisiana’s patchwork of regulations to get a big picture view of how they are influencing current conditions in the coastal watershed. This research is part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, or LWI, and will assess how to improve deficiencies in Louisiana’s approach to floodplain management and community planning across all levels of government.
LSU Coast & Environment Dean Leads DEI Collaboration with Gulf States
More than 50 participants from the Gulf States met virtually on January 28, 2021 as part of the Gulf of Mexico University Research Collaborative's, or GOMURC's, diversity, equity, and inclusion workshop. This DEI workshop was facilitated by GOMURC Chair Chris D'Elia, who is a professor and dean of the LSU College of the Coast & Environment. Its purpose was to exchange ideas regarding the development of a strategy to enhance the diversity of doctoral graduates in the physical and environmental sciences.
CC&E Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The United Nations has declared February 11 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. On this special occasion, we take time to reflect and celebrate the accomplishments of the women students, faculty, and staff of LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment, or CC&E.
Cleaning Up the Mississippi River
LSU College of the Coast & Environment Boyd Professor R. Eugene Turner reconstructed a 100-year record chronicling water quality trends in the lower Mississippi River by compiling water quality data collected from 1901 to 2019 by federal and state agencies as well as the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board. The Mississippi River is the largest river in North America with about 30 million people living within its watershed. Turner focused on data that tracked the water’s acidity through pH levels and concentrations of bacteria, oxygen, lead and sulphate in this study published in Ambio, a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.