Sally Palmer is the Communications Coordinator for The University of Texas Marine Science Institute. She received a bachelor of science in marine biology from the University of Rhode Island and earned a masters degree in marine science from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. Prior to her position handling communications, Sally served as the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Manager. She also has research experience with benthic ecology, hypoxia, and ecosystem dynamics. Since 2006, Sally has help secure over $16 million in funding for administration, research and construction of educational facilities.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working with other agencies to monitor a red tide event along the southern Texas coast. The bloom was first confirmed on Sunday, September 13, by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute who collected samples...
"You want me to do what?" One of the seals with equipment attached about to enter the water inside a hut at one of the camps. Credit: Lee Fuiman.Dr. Lee Fuiman and assistant Erin Frolli and a team of researchers from four...
Texas estuaries are beautiful and the Mission-Aransas Reserve Director, Jace Tunnell, captured some of the beauty in images that were awarded winners and honorable mentions in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2015 Estuary Photo Contest. There were over 130 submissions...
What is Red Tide?
• Red tides are caused by the massive growth of tiny, microscopic algae, which is a type of phytoplankton in the ocean. • In Texas, microscopic algae named Karenia brevis often cause red tides. Massive growth of...
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean. Their large size is both a challenge and virtue when it comes to eating. Researcher have unraveled strategies that the sharks use to conserve energy. Credit: Wayne Osborne.Whale sharks, the world’s largest...
The fish kill, found today, at the north jetty is likely caused by red tide. Credit: Tony Amos.University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) scientists confirmed that samples from two different locations (Fish Pass and Port Aransas Ship Channel) had significant...
This fall, UTMSI is pleased to announce that Drs. Bryan Black and Zhanfei Liu have been promoted to Associate Professor. Both of these researchers have a tremendous amount of experience and are blazing new trails in their respective fields. Dr. Black...
We sat down with Veril Barr to talk about who he is and why he is a jack of all trades.
Veril, the Landscape Services Supervisor, shows off one of the many battery operated nodes that helped get the irrigation system...
Scientists from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute assessed photooxidation and biodegradation rates on different hydrocarbon groups.
They found that photooxidation was the main driver for degrading aromatic hydrocarbons, and biodegradation was the key process controlling the degradation of...
Here's the wind field from a NOAA model captured on windyty.com. It's pretty impressive and also shows another storm sneaking up from the south. Honey Badger is at the pointy base of the teardrop. Credit: Tracy Villareal.Earlier this summer, scientists from...
Many species of fish in the Gulf of Mexico like this goliath grouper come together and form dense aggregations to spawn. Scientists will begin to compile existing data on these aggregations to get a better understanding of the fisheries, which can...
We sat down with PhD student, Matt Khosh, to understand why rivers are important and what it's like to work in the Arctic.
Matt Khosh
Faculty Supervisor: Jim McClelland
Research Area: River Biogeochemistry
Please tell us a little bit about...
Dr. Brett Baker is the newest addition to the faculty at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Marine microbes include a very broad spectrum of microscopic organisms (microalgae, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi and viruses). They are ubiquitous, inhabiting every niche...
The Mission-Aransas Reserve has revamped their website: www.missionaransas.orgAccess data, watch videos of facilities and programs, stay up to speed on the latest events, and checkout the facebook feed on the homepage. Enjoy!
Katie Swanson, Stewardship Coordinator for the Mission-Aransas Reserve at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, discusses the importance of marsh monitoring and how the data is used. To find out more information about what research and education the Reserve is...
Captain Frank Ernst is the captain of UTMSI'S small boat fleet and the Dive Safety Officer. Credit: Frank Ernst.We sat down with Frank Ernst for a chat about who he is and what it is like to be on and under...
Coastal Beaufort Sea with a view of the Brooks Range. Credit: Carrie Harris.Graduate student Carolynn Harris, shares her adventures aboard the research vessel Norseman II. You can follow Carolynn adventures at: https://carolynnmharris.wordpress.com/blog/ I spent the first week of August back aboard the Norseman II...
Three longtime advocates for The University of Texas Marine Science Institute were inducted into the Director’s Honor Society. The Honorable Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Edith McAllister of San Antonio, and Ben Vaughan, III (not pictured) of Austin were honored...
Teachers, rear - Karen Lyssy, 8th grade; front - Laura Weaver, 11th grade, conduct water quality testing aboard kayaks on the Mission River. Credit: Nicole Pringle. This summer, 14 middle and high school teachers from 13 different Coastal Bend School Districts...