Potential impacts for the Organizational Member
Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) of Western Washington University has hosted the AAUS/ Our World Underwater Scholarship Society (OWUSS) scientific diving intern for the past two years. Under the direction of Diving Safety Officer (DSO) Nathan T. Schwarck, both interns were given the opportunity to present at the annual OWUSS meeting in New York City. Schwarck was invited and able to attend the 2012 meeting and watch Annie Thompson (2012 intern) present her internship experience.
Thompson’s underwater research demonstrated population recovery of the pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, in the San Juan Archipelago and highlighted SPMC’s involvement in the restoration efforts of this species of concern. The presentation also focused on how Thompson’s AAUS training facilitated her development as a scientific diver, and concluded with a description of her current scientific work at Friday Harbor Laboratories. This representation of AAUS is exactly what Dr. Lee Somers is looking for, a way to generate awareness of scientific diving and underwater research within the Scholarship Society. Dr. Somers served as the first president for AAUS, was a founding member, and is the current sponsor of the scientific diving internship.OWUSS is an organization dedicated to fostering leaders in the underwater world. Comprised of Rolex scholars from North America, Europe, and Australasia, interns with experiences ranging from photojournalism to dive medicine, corporate and hosting sponsors, instructors from all aspects of diving, patrons, and a global network of diving’s elite. The Scholarship Society supports these scholars and interns and provides a highly sought after enviable experience. But what does this mean for an AAUS organizational member, beyond international recognition and an opportunity to share important underwater research projects from the scientific diving community? It gives scientific divers greater exposure to the Scholarship Society. This was recently demonstrated by Jeff Hester, the dive buddy and research partner of the 2011 scientific diving intern Jenna Walker. Hester was recently announced as the 2013 North American Rolex Scholar. “My summer at Shannon Point positively influenced the trajectory of my life. Completing the AAUS training with Schwarck and Walker gave me the confidence to continue on in diving-related disciplines which ultimately lead to this incredible opportunity as the North American Rolex Scholar,” stated Hester.
Starting this year Walker will be acting as the AAUS/OWUSS Internship Coordinator on behalf of the Scholarship Society and is currently the assistant DSO for the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which will be hosting the 2013 scientific diving intern. Both Walker and Schwarck would love to share more, feel free to contact them and learn more about this scientific diving internship program.
Contact Information: jenna.walker@aquarium.org and nathan.schwarck@wwu.edu
From left to right: Annie Thomson (2012 AAUS/OWUSS intern),
Jay Dimond (SPMC), Nathan Schwarck (SPMC),
Jeff Hester (2013 North American Rolex Scholar),
Jenna Walker (2011 AAUS/OWUSS intern).
Photo Credit:Karl Huggins
