![Researchers Dr. Brad Gemmell (left) and Dr. Ed Buskey (right) use sophisticated lasers to create a holographic images that allows them to see how oil interacts with animals at a very fine scale. Image courtesy of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. b2ap3_thumbnail_BradGemmell_EdBuskey_GoMRI.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_BradGemmell_EdBuskey_GoMRI.jpg)
“Renewal of the GoMRI funding award will provide the support needed for our consortium scientists to solve the puzzle of how oil can impact our environment,” Buskey said. “This consortium was funded for a second time to continue research into the physical and biological processes impacted by oil spills and to carry forward work in the scientific and engineering communities to understand and predict the fate of spilled oil in marine environments, as well as its effects on the environment and human health.”
![Images of planktonic marine copepods that have consumed tiny oil droplets. Image on left under bright field illumination; on left same animals illuminated with UV light which makes consumed oil droplets appear as bright spots. Image courtesy of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (Ed Buskey). b2ap3_thumbnail_Copepods.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_Copepods.jpg)
The newly funded project will continue the scientist’s efforts to model the processes affecting the fate of crude oil spills, including physical breakup and dispersion of oil patches, interactions of petroleum with plankton and microbes, biodegradation of oil and the impact of aerosolized oil on public health. Dr. Buskey directs the consortium and is assisted by UTMSI scientists—Drs. Zhanfei Liu, Brad Gemmell and Deana Erdner. Other consortium members include scientists at Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, SINTEF – Norway and Bloomberg School of Public Health – JHU.
![Dr. Andrew Esbaugh will be examining the physiology of red drum and other fish to better understand how exposure to oil affects their performance and behavior. Image courtesy of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. b2ap3_thumbnail_AndrewEsbaugh_SallyPalmer_02_web.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_AndrewEsbaugh_SallyPalmer_02_web.jpg)
![New funding will allow researchers to examine the effects of oil exposure on economically important fish species. Image courtesy of Dr. Evan D'Alessandro. b2ap3_thumbnail_Dolphinfish_Evan-DAlessandro_web.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_Dolphinfish_Evan-DAlessandro_web.jpg)