Kesley Gibson and Lily Walker were named the first two recipients of the Science of Conservation Scholarships. The scholarships were created by a partnership between Shimano and the Coastal Conservation Association CCA to fund four scholarships dedicated to students furthering their marine science education at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
“Science is at the core of formulating all our policy decisions, so helping to ensure the best and brightest of the next generation have everything they need to continue their education is a win for marine resources and for anglers,” said Patrick Murray, president of CCA.
Meet the Recipients
Kesley Gibson
Gibson is a Ph.D. candidate in the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation HRI. Her research involves migratory patterns and artificial reef habitat use of fisheries species in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including red snapper, king mackerel, cobia and multiple shark species. She is a Divemaster with supplemental certifications including nitrox, rescue, full face, boat, deep, night, and drysuit diving, and appeared on the Shark Week episode The Lost Cage in 2017.
Lily Walker
Walker, also a Ph.D. student, works in the Coastal Ecosystem Processes lab at HRI. The goal of her dissertation research is to increase understanding of estuarine water quality and oxygen dynamics in South Texas, specifically focusing on physical and chemical drivers of dissolved oxygen. A large portion of her dissertation will investigate the possible linkages between submarine groundwater discharge and hypoxia formation in local bay systems.
Learn more about the scholarship and other initiatives here.
