Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences

Carbon cycling, coastal water currents, otilith chemistry and photochemistry in freshwaters are many of the topics introduced to me in one of the most education summer experiences I have had. Working on an independent research project at Old Dominion University sponsored by the oceanography department, I learned an incredible amount about chemistry in the ocean as a part of the environment. While I had a considerable amount of exposure to environmental chemistry in my undergraduate career, my focus had not been directed to the ocean. In my freshman year of college I studied heat reactions of Hydrocholrofluorocarbons in respect to the assumptions of a published science article. In the process I became aware of just how CFC’s were affecting the atmosphere and global warming effects.
This summer I studied the photo-production of carbon monoxide from organic compounds to model the proposed photochemical reactions of carbon and carbon compounds in the ocean and in freshwater situations. Through the research I was able to learn more about environmental photochemistry and the impact carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the ocean have on the ocean/atmospheric condition of the earth and global warming. It becomes apparent how important oceanography and environmental chemistry are when we look at the devastating effects of atmospheric behavior have had this year concerning Katrina and the tsunami. It raises questions about global warming and the toll of our current practices on the environment. With all that I have learned in oceanic sciences I am left with a keen interest in what more I can learn about the earth and one of its most important systems and in what ways I can become a better scientist with valuable experience and knowledge in order to help advance the understanding of environmental science importance.