Alyson Lowell, a PhD candidate at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), has been awarded the New York Sea Grant (NYSG) John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. This fellowship places her in the office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski as a legislative fellow.
Lowell's research focuses on how seagrasses and calcifiers respond to stressors such as coastal acidification, warming sea surface temperatures, and emerging diseases. Her work aims to enhance understanding of ecosystem resiliency amidst environmental changes. "I plan to apply freely shared knowledge to accelerate our understanding of ecosystem resiliency in the face of environmental variability," Lowell stated.
Her previous projects include documenting the effects of environmental variability on coastal ecosystems and stakeholders both domestically and internationally. In collaboration with Remote Ecologist, she has helped restore degraded reefs in Colombia's Caribbean islands. In New York’s Shinnecock Bay, she studied coastal acidification impacts on nearshore communities to support commercial fishermen.
This year marks a milestone for the Knauss Fellowship program as all eligible Sea Grant programs are represented by early-career professionals working alongside federal agencies or legislative offices in Washington, D.C., addressing marine and Great Lakes sustainability issues.
Lowell is one of five fellows from New York, joining Kahad Adamu from University at Buffalo, Beryl Kahn from City University of New York, Patricia McKee from Pace University, and Dawn Parry from Cornell University. This cohort is NYSG’s 46th class with 88 fellows participating nationwide.
"We are beyond excited for the adventure these five dynamic, passionate, and visionary new Knauss Fellows are embarking on, on behalf of the Nation’s coastal communities, economies, and environments. They are sure to make a transformational impact," said NYSG Director Becky Shuford.
The Knauss Fellowship has supported over 1,660 students over its 45-year history who have contributed significantly to environmental policy and management.
New York Sea Grant is part of a cooperative program between Cornell University and the State University of New York under NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program. It connects university scientists with various user groups to disseminate science-based information effectively.