Cielomar Rodríguez Calderón
Calle Monte P-9
Bo. Campanillas
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico 00949
I will finish my bachelor’s degree with a double concentration in Geography and Environmental Sciences on May 2006. Afterwards, I seek to achieve graduate studies (Ph.D) in Geological Oceanography with a specialization in Coastal Studies. I plan to become a professor of undergraduate and graduate level to motivate new generations to continue studies in oceanography and coastal processes that are so needed, especially in an island system. I will also work in the assessment of coastal areas that are still not documented. This assessment will contribute to the integral development and strategic management for the protection and conservation of coastal resources in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean area. Using these studies I will perform a temporal-spatial analysis to develop a model of how our coasts are behaving and what could be their behavior in the future. I will integrate qualitative research techniques as oral history, among others, to obtain data that result difficult to obtain through quantitative research tools only. These tools can help us understand the behavior of the coastal systems through an interdisciplinary point of view. Furthermore, these studies will help generate information that helps to develop an intelligent management and sustainability planning of our coastal zones. I also have a special interest and priority to conduct continuous education to community groups. As a coastal studies scientist, I understand that it is very important to conduct coastal researches to help communities understand their own environment. I am sure that this strategy is one of the clues to obtain the best conservation of coastal resources and for this goal I will continue working.
My experiences as a research assistant under the mentoring of Dr. Maritza Barreto, from the Geography Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RPC), were related with assessment, conservation and management of coastal resources. I was a grantee of the Capacity Building Program for Coastal and Marine Sustainability (COSTAS Program) of Puerto Rico Sea Grant, sponsored by NOAA during three years(2001-04). During this time, I conducted an investigation related with the use of qualitative research methods to identify geomorphologic changes in the Luis Peña Channel Marine Reserve caused by tropical cyclonic systems since 1900-2000 in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. This research is at present in the publication process supported by Sea Grant Program at the Mayaguez Campus, UPR-MC.
Last summer, I participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Internship at Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences from the University of William and Mary. During two months I worked under the mentoring of Dr. Steve Kuehl, from the Department of Physical Sciences, in a research titled: “Shelf Sedimentation Pattern Description Off Waipaoa River, New Zealand”. In this research, I used geochronology techniques, seismic reflections, grain-size analysis, and x-rays analysis. As part of my participation in the REU program, oral and writing presentations were realized.
At present, I am working with my undergraduate thesis as a requirement of the Honor Studies Program at UPR-RPC. This research is a continuation of the research granted by NOAA titled: “Geomorphologic and Land Use Changes on the Marine Reserve Canal Luis Peña, Culebra, Puerto Rico (1930-2005)”. Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques are used for the identification of geomorphologic changes and the preparation of actualized land use maps of Culebra Island. As part of this research, I plan to prepare papers to submit for publication.
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