Seven Coral Reef Management Fellowships Available To Virgin Islanders

ST. THOMAS — Virgin Islanders are eligible to apply for fellowships with Nova Southeastern University’s National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program. The program aims to build excellent next generation leaders with the capacity to effectively manage local coral reef ecosystems.

“This is a great opportunity and I urge anyone with a science background to consider applying before the July 11 deadline,” said the Office of the Governor’s Federal Relations coordinator, Shawn-Michael Malone, a former senator. “We must begin to cultivate more local expertise on protecting our coral reefs.”

Applicants are required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marine sciences, environmental sciences or a related field and some professional experience related to their educational history. Other specific requirements vary depending on the jurisdiction where they are placed: Florida, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The program responds to the need for increased coral reef management capacity in the coral reef jurisdictions while providing an opportunity to gain professional experience, expertise, and understanding of coral reef resources and management at the jurisdictional level. Fellows can be expected to work on national goals for climate change, land-based sources of pollution and fishing, as well as addressing local needs such as the development of management plans for marine managed areas, increased community involvement in monitoring and response, climate change adaptation, and biological monitoring.

The program is a partnership between Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs and the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee.

Applications are due on July 11, 2017. Learn more about the fellowship through the link atop.