13th Annual Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting

On April 12^th and 13^th The University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) and Mission-Aransas Reserve hosted the thirteenth annual Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting. The meeting featured distinguished speakers, Drs. Wes Tunnell and Lisa Campbell, as well as presentations from over 100 researchers, students, and resource managers. Researchers from around Texas came together to learn from each other with the hope of generating a better understanding of our diverse coastal regions of Texas. The participants provided great presentations and posters that lent themselves to thought-provoking ideas and problem-solving solutions.

Graduate students were presented with awards for the best oral presentation and poster. The awards for oral presentations were sponsored by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and the awards for posters were sponsored by the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation. We are pleased to congratulate the following recipients for the student presentation awards:

Victoria Congdon and Erin Reed (left) both from The University of Texas Marine Science Institute received 3rd place in the student oral presentation competition. Austin Green (center) from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley took first place. The oral presentation competition was sponsored by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP). The students are pictured with Rae Mooney (right), CBBEP project manager. Oral Presentation

1^st Place - Austin Green (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)

2^nd Place - Alex Tompkins (Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute)

3^rd Place (tie) - Erin Reed (The University of Texas Marine Science Institute) & Victoria Congdon (The University of Texas Marine Science Institute)

Kesley Gibson (center left) from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute received 3rd place in the student poster competition, which is sponsored by the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation (CBBF). Kelsey is pictured here with Sharon Bailey-Lewis (CBBF Vice President), Jace Tunnell (CBBF President), and John Adams (CBBF Past President).Poster Presentation

1^st Place - Hailey Boeck (Texas A&M University Corpus Christi)

2^nd Place - Tyler Schact (Texas A&M University Corpus Christi)

3^rd Place - Kesley Gibson (Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute)

This event was hosted by The University of Texas Marine Science Institute and Mission-Aransas Reserve. It was made possible by the generous support of Sea Grant Texas, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, and Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute. Thank you sponsors and our student volunteers! 

Check out all the photos of the event on our Facebook Page.