I have been with Oceanbites since its beginning. Carrie McDonough (Oceanbites Editor-in-Chief) had just returned from ComSciCon and emailed the student listserv at the Graduate School of Oceanography to see if anyone was interested in starting an oceanography-based blog. I instantly jump on-board and by mid-September 2013, Oceanbites was live!
Oceanbites has been an amazing experience; I was able to stay current with literature all the while reading about other oceanography topics that would otherwise be over my head. I feel like I have become not just a better writer, but since I went through the process of learning how to become a book editor, I also became a better communicator and editor! I have given guest lectures on blogging, I kept a blog throughout my post-doctoral research to keep the community involved in my work, and have even met some of the other Oceanbites writers whom I never would have met otherwise.
However, all great things must come to an end. I am now the Research Coordinator for the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve were I have transitioned from academia to state government. I love my new position and am involved in many research projects from topics including microplastics, derelict crab pots, and nekton.
Between finishing up my post-doc work, publishing some of my lingering graduate school work, and my new position, my workload has finally reached the point where I could no longer dedicate the time needed for Oceanbites.
I am extremely sad to leave, but excited to transition from an Oceanbites contributor to loyal reader and hope to see Oceanbites continue to grow! So thank you eternally to all the Oceanbites readers, social media-sharers, and writers (past, present and future!).
I received a Ph.D. in oceanography in 2014 from the Graduate School of Oceanography (URI) and am finishing up a post-doc at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (Horn Point Laboratory). I am now the Research Coordinator for the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Carbon is my favorite element and my past times include cooking new vegetarian foods, running, and dressing up my cat!
Well done for all your input – I don’t have a science qualification, but Oceanbites has been an awesome way for me to learn about current research in the marine environment. So thank you from a member of the general public!
Thank you very much Karen!
You will be missed, Kari! Thanks for all the great posts. I’m happy to hear your new position is going well – it sounds really exciting!
Thank you Carrie for all your leadership and guidance! I hope to see you at a future conference!