Three of our staff supporting NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science joined a team of nine other scientists on a 12 day expedition to collect deep-sea coral samples in the Gulf of Mexico. After completing 23 dives at 14 sites the team collected 36 live samples of coral, some of which have never previously been kept in an aquaria environment. The team also collected genetic samples, water samples for eDNA and aquaculture reference, and samples for microbiology and microscopy. The team transported the live coral samples to the Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina where they will be studied for genetics, population connectivity, reproduction, and other important information that help scientists understand and protect coral reefs.

A boat in the middle of the ocean.
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium for Ocean Research operates the research vessel Point Sur.
Orange coral polyps with small white tentacles along the tops.
Close-up of collected coral sample.
Two clear collection tubs separated into two sides containing orange branching corals in one side and darker branching coral in the other.
The team collected live coral samples and kept them alive on-board while being transported to the laboratory.

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Supporting Safety In Higher Education Laboratories

In the past two years we’ve expanded our safety portfolio to supporting colleges and universities, ensuring their laboratories meet industrial hygiene and safety standards. Our staff member leading the effort is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP), and member of the Remote Industrial Hygiene and Safety Support Team. Our short-term projects…

Installing Environmental Monitoring Stations

Our field crews installed/updated two environmental monitoring stations in remote locations in the Pacific Northwest. Multiple types of sensors were installed including air and soil temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and soil redox potential. These stations provide data for designing and evaluating soil remediation projects for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development. Installing…

1000 Samples of Lake Water Collected and Processed 

Congrats to our team supporting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development for completing the processing and initial chemical analyses of 1000 lake water samples!  They received lake water samples from across the continental U.S. this past summer and have completed the initial chemical analyses as part of the U.S. EPA 2022 National…