Student Spotlight: Melina Giakoumis Studies Some ‘Cool Critters’ in National Parks to Understand the Effects of Climate Change
By Lida Tunesi
Melina Giakoumis (Biology) the opportunity to fuse two interests: marine conservation and science communication. Plus, she gets to spend the summer at three seashore parks in Massachusetts and Maine.
Giakoumis will devote the next year to studying sea stars in intertidal ecosystems throughout the northeastern U.S. to understand and share with the public how these ecologically important species are responding to climate change. She is one of three students chosen for the fellowship, a partnership led by Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, the National Park Service, and the National Park Foundation with support from the David Evans Shaw Family Foundation, that seeks to advance conservation and ecosystem science and enhance the stewardship of park resources.