Student Wins Marine Industries Memorial Scholarship

This May, first-year marine science graduate student Megan McGrath – from the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences – was awarded the 6th annual Frank Herhold Memorial Scholarship from the Marine Industries of South Florida (MIASF). The award was recognized in the MIASF 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on May 20.

Megan’s research is on the presence of UV-filters in ambient seawater and tissue of Acropora cervicornis, and the possible impacts UV-filters have on coral fecundity, or fertility. With major advisor D. Abigail Renegar, Ph.D., Megan will be taking samples of A. cervicornis (Staghorn coral) from Nova Southeastern University’s offshore coral nursery, two locations managed by the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Florida Keys, as well as The Florida Aquarium. This is the first-time tests for UV-filters on coral reefs will be completed in mainland USA, and the first time ever UV-filters will be compared to A. cervicornis ability to reproduce.

Created in 1961, MIASF is a not-for-profit trade organization focused on the sound growth of the marine industry for the benefit of its members and their customers, local communities, and the environment. MIASF is comprised of more than 500 members in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.