GRIIDC Participates in GRP Fellowship Conference in Corpus Christi, TX

GRIIDC participated in the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program (GRP) Fellowship Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, from August 27-28. The conference was a reunion of current and former GRP fellows and took place at the Harte Research Institute (HRI) and the Texas State Aquarium.

The conference kicked off at HRI for the Science Policy Showcase. Current fellows listened to presentations from HRI staff involved with the GRP’s Fellowship program:

• Understanding Gulf Ocean Systems (UGOS)/Loop Current, Felimon Gayanilo
• Science Policy Fellows personal experience and current related efforts, Dr. Diana DelAngel
• GRIIDC data initiative and connections to science policy, Rosalie Rossi
• Social determinants of health initiative and connections to science policy, Dr. Katya Wok, The Water Institute
• Mixed efforts with policy and law, Dr. Kristina Alexander
• Student Workshop on International Coastal and Marine Management connections to science policy, Dr. Mark Besonen

A reception followed at the Texas State Aquarium, where the rest of the conference was held. Attendees participated in an ice breaker bingo activity to encourage mingling and conversation. Dr. David Yoskowitz, Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, gave the keynote speech and welcomed attendees at the conference.

The GRP Fellowships Forum was held the next day, focusing on fellowship highlights, upcoming program spotlights, career journeys of GRP alumni, and peer exchange of ideas. GRIIDC hosted a booth throughout the forum to interact with fellows and encourage data sharing to the GRIIDC site.

GRIIDC partners with GRP to store and share GRP-funded data, which includes data from fellowship programs like these. GRIIDC looks forward to its continuing relationship with GRP, educating researchers about data management best practices and open data benefits, as well as increasing the breadth of publicly accessible data for the Gulf.