Speaker’s Bureau Speaker List

Fishes and Fisheries

Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay 1
Rachel Dixon, Ph.D. Candidate
Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Region 2
Dr. Mary Fabrizio, Professor
The Uncharismatic Forage Fishes of Chesapeake Bay 2
Dr. Mary Fabrizio, Professor
Multispecies Fisheries Research Group 3
Debra Gauthier, Chief of GIS & Web Operations: Multispecies Research Group
Predator-Prey Interactions in Fisheries 3
Debra Gauthier, Chief of GIS & Web Operations: Multispecies Research Group
RecFish: Engaging Recreational Anglers as Community Scientists 7
Dr. Lisa Kellogg, Founding Director: RecFish, Assistant Professor

Relevant to the Chesapeake Bay

Benthic Invertebrates and Beyond... 1
Jennifer Dreyer, Research Manager
Nitrogen, Nitrogen, Everywhere 4
Dr. Amber Hardison, Associate Professor
Ups and Downs in the Anthropocene: Understanding the processes driving
resistance, resilience, and temporal variability in coastal ecosystems 9
Dr. Chris Patrick, Assistant Professor
Poop in the Ocean 9
Kristen Sharpe, Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement
Zoop Soup (and Poop): The Importance of Zooplankton 10
Kristen Sharpe, Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement

Outside of Virginia
Deep Sea Biology 1
Jennifer Dreyer, Research Manager
Travels to the end of the earth…. Antarctica 1
Jennifer Dreyer, Research Manager
 Expedition Nepal 2
Dr. Mary Fabrizio, Professor

Marsh and Wetlands

The Virginia Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) 4
Kirk Havens, Research Professor; Director of CCRM
Virginia's Barrier Islands: Breakneck Change in a Rapidly Changing World 5
Dr. Chris Hein, Associate Professor
Ghost Forests, Zombie Shrimp, and Space Fish: Strange But True Tales Of The
Salt Marsh 7
Dr. David Johnson, Assistant Professor

Technical Talks
A Career in Marine Science 1
Jennifer Dreyer, Research Manager
Using Thermal Imaging to Monitor Animals in the Wild 4
Kirk Havens, Research Professor; Director, CCRM
Methods of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia 6
Karen Hudson, Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist
VIMS’ Role in Shellfish Aquaculture Research 6
Karen Hudson, Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist
The Next Generation of Seagrass Research: Using the Past as a Guide to Address
Future Challenges 8
Dr. Chris Patrick, Assistant Professor
Breeding the Best Oyster 10
Dr. Jessica Small, Director of the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center;
Associate Professor

Pollution and Plastics

Marine Debris / Plastic Pollution in the Marine Environment (plastic, microplastic,
whales, worms, lost crab pots, cranberries, shotguns, biopolymers, beer, & bovine
digestion - yes, it's all linked!) 4
Kirk Havens, Research Professor; Director of CCRM
Derelict Fishing Gear in the Marine Environment 5
Kirk Havens, Research Professor; Director of CCRM
 Plastics in the Environment 11
Mara Walters, Ph.D. Student
“Invisible” Plastic Pollution: The Lesser-Known Side of Our Plastic Problem 11
Mara Walters, Ph.D. Student

Climate Change
Putting Modern Sea Level Change in Context: Geologic Controls and Timescales 5
Dr. Chris Hein, Associate Professor
Rising Tides, Sinking Coast: How Coastal Communities can Adapt to Surging
Sea Levels 8
Dr. Molly Mitchell, Research Assistant Professor

Shellfish
Rise of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia and its Economic Importance 6
Karen Hudson, Shellfish Aquaculture Specialist
The ABC's of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia 7
Shelley Katsuki, Kauffman Aquaculture Center/Field Specialist
Where Do the Oysters You Eat Come From? 10
Dr. Jessica Small, Director of the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center;
Associate Professor
What is an Oyster and Why are They Important? 10
Dr. Jessica Small, Director of the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center;
Associate Professor
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Rachel Dixon: Fishes and Fisheries

Rachel Dixon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Natural Resources section at VIMS. She received her
Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Biology from UNC-Wilmington and her Masters of Science in
Marine Studies from the University of Delaware. Rachel’s dissertation focuses on the
recruitment dynamics of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay.
Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay
A presentation on the diversity of fishes in the Chesapeake Bay, the methods used to
sample and study fishes, and the challenges facing fishes and their habitat. Come learn
what lives in our biggest local waterway!
General public, kids and above

Jennifer Dreyer
Jenny Dreyer is currently a research manager for the Benthic Ecology Lab working on oyster
restoration, submerged aquatic vegetation, and various other benthic community ecology projects
in Chesapeake Bay. She also curates the VIMS Invertebrate Collection. Other active research
interests include polychaete taxonomy and systematics, hydrothermal vent ecology, benthic
deep-sea biology, reproductive biology and ecology, and environmental impacts on benthic
communities.
Benthic Invertebrates and Beyond...
What lives at the bottom of a body of water? Learn about the invertebrate diversity at the
bottom of Chesapeake Bay and beyond!
General public, kids and above
Deep Sea Biology
Learn about deep sea biology including hydrothermal vent biology, cold seep biology,
whale falls and wood falls.
General public, kids and above
Travels to the end of the earth…. Antarctica
Learn about what it takes to work in Antarctica and get to know the animals living there.
General public, kids and above
A Career in Marine Science
Learn generally what it takes to have a career in marine science and the wide variety of
positions available.
General public, kids and above
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Dr. Mary Fabrizio: Fishes and Fisheries, Outside of Virginia

Dr. Mary Fabrizio is a Professor in the Natural Resources section at the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and grew up in and around New York
City. She received an undergraduate degree in Biology from Fordham University and completed
her Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests
focus on the relationship between fish and their habitats. Mary was the first female professor,
and subsequently the first female department chair, within the former Fisheries Science
department at VIMS. She also served as the 7th female president of the American Fisheries
Society from 2007-2008.
Expedition Nepal
In 2019, a team of fisheries biologists from VIMS, led by Professor Dr. Mary Fabrizio,
traveled to Nepal to study the country's freshwater fishes. Their goal was to understand
how national parks - primarily designed to protect large land animals - may also protect
fish habitats and diversity. Along the way they learned a great deal about the rewards and
challenges associated with conducting international research. Join us as Dr. Fabrizio
provides a first-hand account of the expedition - from extreme heat to wild rhinoceros
encounters - and what they hope to discover with the information they gathered.
Young adults and above
Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Region
The blue catfish is a freshwater fish that was introduced to the region in the 1970s and
has since increased in abundance and spread into the estuarine waters of Chesapeake Bay.
I can discuss the research conducted by my lab to learn about the salinity tolerance of
blue catfish, as well as other characteristics that make this fish a particularly successful
invader. I can also discuss the management implications of this invasive species,
including the growing fishery for blue catfish, the trophy fishery, and what managers are
doing to control its spread.
Young adults and above
The Uncharismatic Forage Fishes of Chesapeake Bay
My lab has been studying forage fishes (fish that are eaten by predators such as striped
bass, summer flounder, ospreys, dolphins) and their distribution throughout the Bay
relative to water quality conditions and physical habitats. We have found that the extent
of suitable habitats in the bay drive the abundance of some of these species, whereas the
abundance of others is driven by factors such as predation. This talk includes lots of maps
depicting where habitats are suitable and unsuitable for various species, including the
ubiquitous bay anchovy. The results from this study, which is based on a 17-year
sampling program with monthly observations of forage fishes, are being used to guide
management of forage fishes and conservation of habitats to ensure the long-term
production of striped bass, summer flounder, and other targeted species.
Young adults and above
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Debra Gauthier
Debra is the Chief of GIS & Web Operations for the Multispecies Research Group (MRG) and a
Marine Scientist in the Natural Resources section at VIMS. Her background is in Biological
Oceanography (B.S. Millersville University, Pennsylvania, 1997) and Fisheries Biology (M.S.
Humboldt State University, California, 2003). She started working with the Multispecies
Research Group (MRG) in 2003, one year into its flagship monitoring program, Chesapeake Bay
Multispecies Monitoring and Assessment Program (ChesMMAP), designed by Dr. Robert
Latour, Christopher Bonzek, and James Gartland. Since then, the MRG has grown to develop an
additional large-scale monitoring survey, Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program
(NEAMAP), take the lead on the long-running VIMS shark longline survey, develop 2 juvenile
shark longline surveys in local waters (Cooperative Atlantic States Shark Pupping and Nursery,
COASTSPAN), and take the lead on the long-running VIMS striped bass monitoring and tagging
surveys. At present, Debra's duties with the MRG mainly focus on data mapping, web data
reporting and infographics, as well as processing stomach samples for diet analysis and
processing otoliths for fish age and growth analysis.
Multispecies Fisheries Research Group
In this talk, Debra provides a very broad overview of the surveys MRG performs. She
gives background information on why we perform fisheries monitoring, discusses our sampling
design, and provides some results. She concludes by discussing how the results inform
management and the public of species distributions, population age and growth structure, and
foraging habits.
General public, middle school and up
Predator-Prey Interactions in Fisheries
In this talk, Debra provides a specific focus on fisheries sampling to perform stomach
contents analysis. She gives background information on why we perform diet analysis via
stomach contents, discuss the sample processing, and provide some results. She concludes by
discussing how the results inform the public of Chesapeake Bay and nearshore Mid-Atlantic
food webs.
General Public

Dr. Amber Hardison

Dr. Amber Hardison is an Associate Professor in the Coastal and Ocean Processes section at the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). She was raised in Richmond, Virginia. Dr.
Hardison received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Virginia,
earned a Ph.D. in Marine Science at VIMS, then conducted postdoctoral research at Brown
University. Her research interests focus on understanding the dynamic processes influencing
carbon and nutrient cycling within coastal systems and the impacts of human and climatic
processes on these cycles. The lab's research approach combines novel isotopic and organic
geochemical techniques in both experimental and field settings to study the sources and fates of
these elements in estuarine and marine ecosystems and the role of microbes in processing these
nutrients. Her projects range from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic.
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Nitrogen, Nitrogen, Everywhere

This talk will provide the history of nitrogen loading to global coastal systems, the
consequences of that input, and ways to reduce the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the
future.
Adults, or can be modified for K-12

Dr. Kirk Havens: Pollution, Technical Talks, Marsh and Wetlands

Dr. Kirk Havens is a Research Professor of Marine Science and the Director of the Center for
Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) which has a mission to support informed decision-
making on resource management issues at all levels of government, including by private and
corporate citizens. Dr. Havens has a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Oceanography from Old
Dominion University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George
Mason University. His research interests include tidal and non-tidal wetlands ecology and
functional assessments, marine debris, derelict fishing gear, and plastic pollution, environmental
law, public policy, and thermal imaging in animal ecology land use and watershed issues. He is
an author of the book Thermal Imaging Techniques to Survey and Monitor Animals in the Wild
https://www.elsevier.com/books/thermal-imaging-techniques-to-survey-and-monitor-animals-in-
the-wild/havens/978-0-12-803384-5. His recent activity includes highlighting the work of the
Polynesian Voyaging Society to raise awareness of ocean and coastal indigenous knowledge
through the voyages of the traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa, to help advance the
values of ecological restoration and climate change resilience as part of their "He Wa'a, He
Honue - The Earth is Our Canoe" project.
Marine Debris / Plastic Pollution in the Marine Environment (plastic, microplastic, whales,
worms, lost crab pots, cranberries, shotguns, biopolymers, beer, & bovine digestion - yes,
it's all linked!)
Dr. Kirk Havens and his team focus on developing innovative solutions to real world
problems, such as by-catch reduction in derelict crab traps, plastic pollution, and wildlife
entanglement in erosion control netting. Join us as Dr. Havens describes how
biopolymers – plastic-like materials produced naturally by bacteria – are being used to
solve issues of ecological and economic importance.
High school and above
Using Thermal Imaging to Monitor Animals in the Wild
Dr. Kirk Havens has authored the book "Thermal Imaging Techniques to Survey and
Monitor Animals in the Wild" (Elsevier). Learn how thermal imaging can be used to
monitor animals such as bears and panthers and even tortoises.
High school and above
The Virginia Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT)
Understanding the relative level of stress from human disturbance on a wetland’s
capacity to perform valued ecosystem services, such as providing habitat or improving
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water quality, is important in wetlands conservation. Dr. Kirk Havens, Research

Professor and Director of VIMS' Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) and
his team partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to develop an
online interactive mapping tool called the Wetland Condition Assessment Tool or
WetCAT. WetCAT can rapidly census wetland condition at multiple scales and includes
all the mapped wetlands in Virginia. WetCAT received the Governor's Technology
Award and the Environmental Council of States Award.
Middle school and above
Derelict Fishing Gear in the Marine Environment
The accumulation and effects of derelict fishing gear is a worldwide problem and
includes gear such as traps, pots, and nets. Once lost, derelict fishing gear can continue to
capture and kill both target and non-target animals. Dr. Kirk Havens, Research Professor
and Director of VIMS' Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) and his team
study the impacts of derelict gear in the Chesapeake Bay and other regions across the
nation and how citizens can help.
Middle school and above

Dr. Christopher Hein

Dr. Christopher Hein is an associate professor in the Coastal and Ocean Processes section at
VIMS. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Cornell University Department of
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, a Ph.D. from Boston University, and then completed
postdoctoral research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Hein's research here at
VIMS applies the tools of sedimentology and organic chemistry to investigate the link between
coastal evolution and climate variability, with a goal of forecasting future coastal change in
response to regionally-specific changes in climate. He has current projects in Bangladesh, Brazil,
France, the Arctic, South Carolina, and the barrier islands of Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Maryland, and, Virginia.
Virginia's Barrier Islands: Breakneck Change in a Rapidly Changing World
Barrier islands and their marshes and bays are home to diverse ecological communities
and large-scale infrastructure. Although they are a seemingly permanent feature of our
coasts, these islands are among the most rapidly changing landscapes on Earth. No
barrier island system on the U.S. East Coast changes as swiftly as that of Virginia's
Eastern Shore. Join us as Dr. Christopher Hein shares the geology, human history, and
modern change seen along barrier islands in Virginia and around the world.
Young adult and above
Putting Modern Sea Level Change in Context: Geologic Controls and Timescales
Virginia experiences one of the highest rates of sea-level rise in the country. This talk
explores why, starting with the same forces that control the motion of the Earth’s
continental plates over hundreds of millions of years, right through to the role of humans
today.
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Young adult and above

Karen Hudson: Shellfish, Technical Talks

Ms. Hudson has been at VIMS for over 20 years, with the first half of her career working on
a variety of oyster-related research including molecular genetics of oyster species and
marine pathogens and oyster breeding. Her more recent work has been focused on
advisory service in shellfish aquaculture. In this role, she works closely with the shellfish
industry, regulatory agencies, and external groups whose actions directly or indirectly
impact the conduct and expansion of shellfish culture in Virginia. She is actively involved in
fostering the development of applied research projects to address complex shellfish culture
problems. Current research focus areas include supporting shellfish health in the hatchery;
shellfish seed biosecurity; and assessing vulnerability of the shellfish industry to ocean
acidification and other co-stressors. Hudson provides advice and assistance for both
commercial and non-commercial molluscan shellfish growers. She is the science advisor
and VIMS liaison to the Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association, facilitator of VIMS’
Shellfish Aquaculture Industry Advisory Committee, and involved in providing guidance
and outreach on a variety of research projects involving shellfish culture.
Rise of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia and its Economic Importance
The story of the rise of hatchery-based aquaculture focuses on the economic trends of this
industry and the role of aquaculture with the wild fishery.
Adults, General public
Methods of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia
An overview of the two oyster culture methods including intensive (containerized) and
extensive (spat-on-shell). The “how” it’s done.
Adults, General public
VIMS’ Role in Shellfish Aquaculture Research
A high-level overview of the contribution of VIMS researchers to shellfish aquaculture
including the major areas of focus.
Adults, General public

Dr. David Johnson: Marsh and wetlands

Dr. David Johnson is a marine ecologist and an Assistant Professor in the Ecosystem Health
section at VIMS. Dr. Johnson and his group’s research focuses on how ecosystems will change
and will be altered through time because of global changes. He is particularly fond of
invertebrates, and you can find the JLab working in the mud and water in a variety of coastal
ecosystems. Dr. Johnson also places a large focus on science communication and prioritizes
getting his science into the real world as much as possible. You can find him on Twitter
@DavidSamJohnson!
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Ghost Forests, Zombie Shrimp, and Space Fish: Strange But True Tales Of The Salt
Marsh
Why do zombie crustaceans mindlessly wander the marsh? Why can’t a snail let go of its
past? Join us as Dr. David Johnson of VIMS answers these questions and shares stories of
the strange animals wonderfully adapted to life in a salt marsh.
Young adults, General public

Shelley Katsuki Shellfish

Shelley Katsuki is the Kauffman Aquaculture Center (KAC) Manager and Field Specialist at the
Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center. She received her Bachelor’s of Science
in Biology from St. Francis University and her Master’s of Science in Biology from Old
Dominion University. Shelley is responsible for all daily operations at KAC including
broodstock conditioning, water filtration, algal culture, spawning and larval rearing of triploid
and tetraploid oysters.
The ABC's of Oyster Aquaculture in Virginia
Discover how VIMS researchers produce the polyploid oysters that transformed
Virginia’s oyster aquaculture industry. Shelley Katsuki presents an overview of oyster
aquaculture with a focus on the triploid and tetraploid oyster work done at the Kauffman
Aquaculture Center in Topping, VA- one of two oyster hatcheries operated by the
Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) at VIMS.
Young adults, General public

Dr. Lisa Kellogg Fishes and Fisheries

Founding Director, RecFish, and Assistant Professor, Natural Resources section, VIMS; Dr.
Kellogg is a research scientist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science whose work has
focused primarily on oyster reefs and oyster aquaculture. The concept for RecFish grew out of
her desire to better understand the value of oyster reef habitats to finfish in Chesapeake Bay,
recognition that oyster reefs are rarely sampled as part of traditional fishery survey efforts, and
interest in how data collected from the recreational anglers might be used to supplement existing
fisheries data. The daughter of a wildlife biologist, Dr. Kellogg has been fascinated by animals
and how they interact with each other and their environment for as long as she can remember.
RecFish: Engaging Recreational Anglers as Community Scientists
Dr. Lisa Kellogg will discuss development of the RecFish app, winner of VIMS
Innovation Fund awards in 2019 and 2020. RecFish will aid in fisheries management by
providing fish population data gathered by anglers. Get an insider's look at how this tool
will help in collecting important information about Chesapeake Bay fishes and how you
can help with this effort.
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Adults, General public

Dr. Molly Mitchell Climate Change

Dr. Molly Mitchell is a Research Assistant Professor and the Program Director of the Master of
Arts degree program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Dr. Mitchell is a three-time
William & Mary alumna, earning her bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science
and her master’s degree and Ph.D. in marine science from the University. Dr. Mitchell’s research
focuses on shifts in coastal resources due to the interaction of sea level rise and human-driven
changes. She works with decision-makers and resource managers to translate research and
current scientific understanding into practical recommendations. In her role as M.A. Program
Director, she oversees the implementation of VIMS’ new professional degree program.
Rising Tides, Sinking Coast: How Coastal Communities Can Adapt to Surging Sea Levels
Rising seas, frequent flooding, and subsiding land threatens coastal communities around
the globe. Dr. Molly Mitchell, a Research Assistant Professor with the Center for Coastal
Resources Management at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has made it her life's
work to understand these threats and how they affect communities. Dr. Mitchell will give
us a primer on sea level rise - what causes it, how it is changing around the United States,
and what can be done to address it - as well as share the work she does to promote
resilience in coastal communities.
College, General Public

Dr. Chris Patrick Technical Talks, Climate Change

Dr. Chris Patrick is an Assistant Professor in the Coastal and Ocean Processes section and
Director of the VIMS SAV Monitoring and Restoration Program. He received his Bachelor’s of
Science in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics from the University of Maryland
College Park and his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the
faculty at VIMS Dr. Patrick was a Research Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental
Research Center, a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the EPA Office of Water,
and a faculty member at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Dr. Patrick is a community
and ecosystem ecologist with a special interest in marine and aquatic systems. He currently
works both on the coastal rivers in the Gulf Coast of Texas and with submerged aquatic
vegetation (SAV) of the Chesapeake Bay. His research investigates processes that control
biological communities across space and time and what those communities contribute as
ecosystem services.
The Next Generation of Seagrass Research: Using the Past as a Guide to Address Future
Challenges
For more than 40 years VIMS has led one of the most successful seagrass monitoring and
restoration programs in the world. Our long-standing research program has greatly
contributed to the science community’s understanding of seagrasses and the factors that
threaten their survival. There is now a new scientist at the program’s helm, and he is
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using lessons learned from the past to guide the research forward. Join us as Dr. Chris
Patrick, Assistant Professor at VIMS, discusses what we have learned about seagrasses
over four decades, the challenges that lie ahead, and how his team is working to
understand and address those challenges.
General public
Ups and downs in the Anthropocene: Understanding the processes driving resistance,
resilience, and temporal variability in coastal ecosystems.
Anthropogenic climate change is simultaneously changing both average environmental
conditions, a press disturbance, and the frequency and characteristics of extreme events,
pulse disturbances. This makes it critically important to understand the factors that
control ecosystem resistance and resilience so that we can better predict what temporal
variability in ecosystem structure and function will look like in the future. Drawing from
several different projects in coastal ecosystems, I present examples of how climatic
drivers are affecting resistance and resilience, and how these characteristics of
ecosystems relate to one another. These data stories include work on invertebrate and fish
communities in rivers of coastal Texas, seagrass ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay, and
a meta-analysis of ecosystem responses to hurricanes in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean,
and Gulf Coast across systems and response variables. Together these examples suggest
that systems tend to organize around either resistance or resilience, and that the press
disturbance of climate change may be selecting for more resilient rather than resistant
systems in the near term.
College to adults, General science audience

Kristen Sharpe Chesapeake Bay

Kristen Sharpe is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science. Kristen received her Master's of Science degree at VIMS in 2021, where she
investigated the role that zooplankton and their fecal material play in the carbon cycle in the
York River (a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay). Originally from central New York, she
received her B.S. in Biological Applications of Environmental Studies from the State University
of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY-ESF) in 2013. Prior to
entering the graduate program in 2018, she worked for nearly 5 years as the Marine Education
Specialist at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-
VA), an organization with a federal/state partnership between NOAA and VIMS. She has a
genuine passion for outreach and education, and loves having the opportunity to share her
research and interest in marine science with children and adults of all ages!
Poop in the Ocean
Even though we don't like to talk about it, poop plays an important role in the health of
living organisms as well as entire ecosystems! Animal poop plays a critical role in
supporting marine food webs, providing important information for researchers and
conservationists, and even regulating our global climate! VIMS Assistant Director of
Outreach and Engagement, Kristen Sharpe, will provide a general overview of the
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importance of poop in the ocean and an explanation of how her research on zooplankton
poop in the Chesapeake Bay helps us forecast and prepare for the impacts of climate
change.
K-12, General public
Zoop Soup (and Poop): The Importance of Zooplankton
Zooplankton are all the animals drifting around in our oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh
water. They range in size from microscopic to living in colonies as big as a school bus!
VIMS Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement, Kristen Sharpe, will provide a
general overview of the diversity of zooplankton species, shapes, and sizes; the
ecological roles of these creatures; and how her research on zooplankton in the
Chesapeake Bay (and their poop) aims to help us forecast and prepare for the impacts of
climate change.
Middle school and above, General public

Dr. Jessica Small

Dr. Jessica Moss Small is the Director of the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology
Center an an Associate Professor within the Natural Resources section at VIMS where she runs
the breeding program, facilitates other projects by VIMS researchers, interacts with industry and
conducts research tied to breeding. She received a Bachelor's of Science in Marine and
Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from
VIMS. Dr. Small’s research interests are broad and include how genetics, parasites, and ecology
impact aquaculture species. She has given scientific talks throughout the US and abroad and
enjoys speaking to everyone, from scientists to children.
Where do the oysters you eat come from?
Learn how baby oysters are made, how they are grown and what it takes to get them to
your dinner plate.
Middle School and above
Breeding the best oyster
Oyster breeding is largely like what has occurred while domesticating chickens and cows.
Learn how breeding helps oysters live longer, grow faster and have better meat quality.
Adults
What is an oyster and why are they important?
Oysters are amazing! Learn how they help the environment, create habitat for fish and
crabs and can be eaten!
Children and above
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Mara Walters: Pollution, plastics

Mara Walters is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Ecosystem Health section at VIMS, where
she is advised by Dr. BK Song and Dr. Rob Hale. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology at
Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Among other experiences before coming to VIMS, Mara
was an intern at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, where she got to study the impacts
of oil spills on gene expression in fish and the ecotoxicology of red tide toxins. Mara's research
interests lie in the impacts of microplastic pollution and plastic additives on the health of aquatic
organisms, including aquatic microbes and oysters. She hopes to inspire people to use less plastic
to be better environmental stewards.
Plastics in the Environment
Everyone has seen images of plastic polluting the environment in the news - trapped sea
turtles, dying seagulls, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Due to our extensive and
increasing use of plastics, plastic can be found almost anywhere on earth, including deep
in the Mariana Trench and up on Mount Everest. Much of this plastic pollution is in the
form of microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic formed, in part, by the breakdown of larger
plastic products. Because these plastic pieces are so small, they can travel further and
impact more organisms. The story is further complicated by the complex chemical
makeup and biological interactions of plastic in the environment. In this talk, Ashley will
help us understand plastics, their impact, and what the future may hold.
Adults, or can be modified for K-12
“Invisible” Plastic Pollution: The Lesser-Known Side of Our Plastic Problem
Have you ever noticed those “BPA-free” labels on canned foods? Have you read about
microplastics in the news? We’ve all seen the plastic debris that accumulates on the sides
of our roads and ends up in our waterways. As if that weren’t bad enough, there’s more to
the problem of plastic pollution than can be seen with the naked eye. In this talk, you’ll
learn about the types of plastic pollution that we can’t often see but which are
encountered by wildlife (and us!) daily—microplastics, nanoplastics, and plastic
additives. These pollutants may cause even more harm than their visible counterparts and
so are just as important in discussions about how to solve our plastic problem.
Adults, General Public