Maryland Marine Notes: November-December 1998 Article

Volume 16, Number 6 • November-December 1998

Noteworthy

Maryland Sea Grant Directorship Changes • Aquarium Program Features Blacks on the Bay • Maryland Sea Grant Request for Proposals • New Education Newsletter

Maryland Sea Grant Directorship Changes

[Christopher F. D'Elia] Christopher F. D'Elia, director of the Maryland Sea Grant College since 1989, announced recently that he was leaving to become the Vice President for Research at the State University of New York at Albany. Jonathan Kramer was appointed Interim Director of the Maryland Sea Grant College as of January 1, 1999 by Donald N. Langenberg, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

D'Elia, also a tenured professor at the UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and well known for his work on nutrients and on coral reefs, played a key role in directing attention toward nitrogen as an important factor in the overenrichment of the Chesapeake Bay.

During his time with Sea Grant, D'Elia also served a national role in the joint federal-state program, serving as President of the Sea Grant Association, where he promoted a national initiative in marine biotechnology which resulted in legislation to fund a major research effort in that field. He was also instrumental in initiating a number of Sea Grant network-wide efforts, including the national media relations project, which promotes the strength of Sea Grant as a national repository of marine-related expertise.

In addition, D'Elia served as past president of the Estuarine Research Federation, chairman of the Board on Oceans and Atmospheres of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and is incoming chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents.

[Jonathan Kramer] Jonathan Kramer, who brings a broad, interdisciplinary background that includes marine sciences, biological oceanography, microbiology and molecular biology, became Assistant Director for Research at Maryland Sea Grant in January of 1998.

He received his B.S. in Environmental Sciences in 1979 from the University of Massachusetts, his M.S. in Marine Environmental Sciences in 1982 from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and his Ph.D. in 1988 in Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, studying under the late Ian Morris who directed the University of Maryland Center for Environmental and Estuarine Science (now UMCES).

From 1993 to 1997 he held an appointment as a Research Assistant Professor at the Center of Marine Biotechnology, the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, in Baltimore.

His studies there centered chiefly on marine picoplankton in laboratory and field-based investigations to which he has applied modern molecular biological theories and approaches. "Jon is an exceptionally capable individual," says D'Elia. "His firm and steady direction will serve the program very well during this period of transition."

"We are very pleased to have someone of Jonathan Kramer's caliber to guide Maryland Sea Grant into a new era," said Donald N. Langenberg, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. According to Langenberg, a nationwide search will begin soon for a permanent director.

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Aquarium Program Features Blacks on the Bay

For Black History Month the National Aquarium in Baltimore is sponsoring a program entitled "Black Men, Blue Waters: African-Americans on the Chesapeake" that will highlight the important roles African-Americans played in the development of the Chesapeake Bay's seafood industry. A display of pictures and artifacts as well as educational materials about the Bay will run for the month of February; talks will be held on Friday evenings. Admission is $5.00, which includes the exhibit and talks as well as a live dolphin show. For more information, call the Aquarium at (410) 576-3800.

February 5, 6:00 pm. Mrs. Azinith Williams, whose father founded the Black Seafood Workers Union, will discuss the lives of workers in seafood packing houses in Crisfield, Maryland. Lamont Harvey, a direct descendant of the only African-American family to own a packing house in St. Michael's, Maryland, will talk about oystermen and boat builders. The Northern Neck Chantey Singers, eleven retired watermen, will take to the stage, net in hand, and sing the folk music of the sea to the rhythm of their movements.

February 19, 7:30 pm. Vincent O. Leggett, project director of Blacks of the Chesapeake, will give an oral and pictorial presentation entitled, "The Bay through Ebony Eyes." Earl White, a waterman for 60 years, will talk about his life working the water.

February 26, 7:30 pm. The National Association of Black Scuba Divers, an organization founded to promote scuba diving, water skills, awareness and conservation, will explain their connection to the "Henrietta Marie," the only slave shipwreck in the western hemisphere identified by name. The 1983 excavation of the ship off the Florida Keys uncovered the largest collection of slave shackles found in one place.

Also see our Marine Notes March-April 1998 spotlight article.

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Maryland Sea Grant Request for Proposals

Maryland Sea Grant has released its 2000-2001 Request for Proposals to fund research aimed at improving the sustainable use of our marine and coastal resources, with a special emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay. Research proposals must demonstrate their applicability and use in solving real-world problems or in making the most of real-world opportunities.

The RFP and examples of Sea Grant-funded research are available on the web and researchers can, for the first time, submit preproposals online at the site, http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Research/RFP. Since online submission will save paper and time, researchers are encouraged to use the web site; however those who would prefer to submit on paper can download a pdf file of the RFP booklet from the web which they can print out themselves, or they can request a paper copy and, using either version, type in the forms and submit in the traditional way. To request a booklet, call (301) 405-7500. Those who want more detailed information about Maryland Sea Grant's research program may request a copy of the most recent "Program Director".

Preproposals are due in the Sea Grant Office no later than 5:00 p.m. March 12, 1999.

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New Education Newsletter

Teachers in Maryland have a new venue for sharing marine-related education ideas. "Maryland Sea Grant Schools Network News" made its first appearance at the end of 1998 and will appear quarterly. The eight-page newsletter is edited by Maryland Sea Grant Education Specialist Adam Frederick and Regional Marine Specialist Jackie Takacs, with strong input from teachers. "We want to hear directly from teachers," says Frederick, himself a high school science teacher for many years before joining Sea Grant. He and his Sea Grant Extension colleague Jackie Takacs want to gather as many good ideas as they can find in the education community and see that they are shared with teachers looking for activities, lesson plans, field trips and other educational experiences.

The premiere issue features a summer teacher workshop in aquaculture, where teachers get their hands dirty designing, building and fitting out recirculating tanks for teaching not only aquaculture, but also biology, physics, ecology, computer design and plumbing, among other things. The effort could not be more timely. The governors of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania just signed an agreement with the Federal government, state legislators and the mayor of Washington, D.C. to stress Chesapeake Bay-related educational efforts throughout the region. The Sea Grant teacher network will help address the needs and creativity of teachers, to take advantage of programs already in place and to help spark new ones. For more information, contact Adam Frederick at the University of Maryland Center of Marine Biotechnology (frederic@mdsg. umd.edu) or Jackie Takacs at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (takacs@cbl.umces.edu).

Visit our education section to learn about our other educational activities.

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