From the Office of Communications at SUNY Oswego

Oswego, NY, November 15, 2011 - SUNY Oswego will host New York Sea Grant's Associate Director, Dr. Kathy Bunting-Howarth, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, as she discusses women in the sciences at SUNY Oswego on Lake Ontario’s shore as part of the Science Today lecture series.

Students and members of the community are welcome for the free presentation at 4 p.m. in the Historic Classroom in Sheldon Hall.

The installment in the Science Today series, highlighting women of achievement and women’s issues in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), will feature Bunting-Howarth, who will share a history of Sea Grant’s research funded along the Great Lakes and in the Downstate maritime district. She will also note the impact of women on the staff of Sea Grant, which promotes the wise stewardship of coastal resources along the Great Lakes as well as New York’s ocean shores.

“My presentation will allow students to understand what scientists can do for a living, from studying salmon and trout fisheries to being an extension educator working with students in grades K-12,” Bunting-Howarth said. Students also will have the opportunity to learn more about Sea Grant funding opportunities they can one day use for their own research projects, or how to become an extension educator, she said.

A research bridge

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, New York Sea Grant is one of 32 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is a cooperative program of the State University of New York and Cornell University. New York Sea Grant funds research, education and extension services to benefit coastal communities across the state. The organization works with teachers and students to encourage “coastal literacy,” an understanding of Sea Grant and coastal issues, Bunting-Howarth said.

“We’re a bridge between researchers and the community,” Bunting-Howarth said. “Hopefully, if a community member sees something abnormal with the lake or the coast, they’ll know to contact us with their questions.”

Since Oswego is a coastal city, Bunting-Howarth’s presentation also will address topics that pertain to this community and how Sea Grant can be used as a resource.

“We’re a research resource to help people on any issue pertaining to the coast, from looking to improve storm water management to where they can find information on dredging,” she said. “We’re here to provide the community with the scientific insight to make better decisions as well as bring the scientific research needs back to the university.”

New York Sea Grant is one of 32 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a cooperative program of the State University of New York and Cornell University. The National Sea Grant College Program utilizes this network of the nation's premier universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to encourage science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources.

New York Sea Grant has offices across the state, including one on SUNY Oswego’s campus. Others are in Buffalo, Ithaca, Kingston, New York City, Riverhead and Stony Brook.