Oceans dominate the Earth. This is not only a geographic fact—71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans—but also a psychological, societal and economic reality. From a psychological perspective, the ocean has a pull on our hearts and minds that is inexplicable, but real. Economically, the boundaries formed where land and oceans meet (coastal zones) are critical to the financial health of the United States, with coastal counties supporting almost one-half of the nation’s GDP. Globally, oceans are Earth's most valuable asset, contributing $70 trillion to the global GDP annually. It’s no surprise that 40% of the world’s population lives in coastal zones. The judicious stewardship of marine and coastal resources requires expanding our knowledge of the processes that influence the ecosystem services and goods that fuel our socioeconomic needs.
The University of South Alabama has a history of investment in marine sciences education and research, supporting a faculty of renowned experts in a range of marine-related disciplines. The Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences is designed to address pressing environmental concerns of the coastal regions. The school trains the next generation of marine and environmental scientists, conducts cutting-edge research, and extends the impact of this training and research through service activities.
Ben Raines - Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - 5:00pm
The University of South Alabama is proud to welcome our new Environmental Fellow/Writer-in-Residence, Ben Raines. He is an accomplished filmmaker and writer who recently published The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023). Raines also wrote and directed The Underwater Forest, an award-winning film about the exploration of a 70,000-year-old cypress forest found off the Alabama coast as well as wrote and produced the documentary America’s Amazon. Come meet Raines as we kick off his tenure at South!
Please note: this free event will be held in the McQueen Alumni Center with a book signing and reception to follow. PHOTO: Susan Raines.
Ph.D. and M.S. in Marine Sciences Opportunities at South and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
The University of South Alabama offers a limited number of graduate fellowships for highly competitive students seeking Ph.D.s as well as extramurally supported graduate assistantship and university-based teaching assistantships for M.S. and Ph.D. students. All fellowships and assistantships offer competitive pay ($18,000 – $24,000), student health insurance and tuition remission.
