Katie Kahl to New Position at Gloucester Marine Station

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The School of Earth and Sustainability at the University of Massachusetts Amherst today announced that Gloucester resident Katie Kahl has been named to a newly created position, extension assistant professor in sustainable fisheries and coastal resilience, at the Gloucester Marine Station. She will bridge the university’s research capacity with ecological, economic and social needs in the area.

Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) says, “The appointment of Kate Kahl is certainly good news for Cape Ann and UMass, signaling a commitment by the university to boost research at Hodgkins Cove that has meaning for, and impact on, important issues such as strengthening the fishing industry and reaching a better understanding of marine ecosystems. The facility has a storied and important legacy of helping the commercial fishing industry. Now we can write a new chapter in that history by working together on shared priorities, and it’s critical to keep that work alive.”

The full Press Release link

Geologic Survey Underway in Rockport

Friday morning on my way into Cambridge I stopped to check on the baby shore birds that I have been filming at Henry’s Pond. Setting up on the pond’s edge, I met Zach Strommer, graduate student at UMass, and assistants Andy Fallon and Justin Shawler from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Zach is a geology student of Professor John Woodruff and he is writing his thesis on historic storms. The layers of sediment at Henry’s Pond make for an ideal location to gather data. Whenever there is a major storm, the surge pulls sand and salt water into the brackish pond. I wonder how far back in time they will travel. Zach shared his email and said his thesis will be done in about a year. I’ll put it on my calendar and will check back for the results of the study.

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