Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

Congratulations to Dr. Alfredo Giron, graduate under Dr. Octavio Aburto, received the newly created award that honors Walter Munk’s legacy. The inaugural award was presented to Alfredo Giron at the OCEANS Conference in Marseille. Giron received his Ph.D. in March from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After receiving the award, Giron presented his commemorative lecture, “The Risk of Oversimplification in … Read More

Scientists have known that crabs use a leg-rubbing technique to communicate, as well as specialized ridges on the claws and arms that are rubbed together to produce noise. But when Jennifer Taylor, an assistant professor at CMBC and lead author of a  new study, heard the sounds of stridulation from her ghost crabs, neither their legs nor claws were moving. … Read More

Lisa Levin, CMBC Director Emeritus – shows consequences of a warming ocean in major international report. Levin, represented Scripps in co-authoriing the fifth chapter, “Changing Ocean, Marine Ecosystems, and Dependent Communities,” of the IPCC’s Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC). The chapter authors write that the ocean is exhibiting physical and biochemical changes due … Read More

Scientists find that corals rely more on hunting than previously thought When it comes to feeding, corals have two options. Most of their nutrients come from microscopic algae living inside of them, but if those algae aren’t creating enough sustenance, corals can use their tentacles to grab and eat prey swimming nearby. Paper lead author Mike Fox – a postdoctoral … Read More

Dr. Nancy Knowlton, CMBC founding director, was awarded the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to coral research, science communication and marine science education. Young professionals whose careers have been shaped by Dr. Knowlton’s efforts span the globe as leaders and influencers, shaping US ocean policy in the halls of Congress and conducting research that combines … Read More

NOAA Sea Grant has announced the finalists for the incoming class of the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows. Four finalists nominated by California Sea Grant will begin placements in Washington D.C. in February 2020.  Three of these finalists are CMBC Alumni. Congratulations to Jennifer Lee, Kaitlyn Lowder, and Kat Montgomery     This fall, the they will travel to Washington, … Read More

On June 11, the twenty-five students in this year’s Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation presented their capstone reports. Full Schedule Diving Local, Thinking Global: Can Dive Professionals Contribute to Climate Change Literacy? When the Water Comes, Where Does the Money Go? An Economic Analysis of Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding in Long Beach, CA Breathing … Read More

This public event is co-sponsored by CMBC and the Scientific Office of the French Embassy in the USA as part of their new FACT-B program (French Ameri-Can Climate Talks – Biodiversity). The public conference series aims to raise public awareness in France, the United States, and Canada, as well as reinforce exchanges between scientist and experts on biodiversity issues. This … Read More

Speaker:  Adi Khen Presents:  Science Communication Through Art: Drawing Inspiration from the Sea 12:30 – 1:30 4500 Hubbs Hall Adi Khen is a 4th-year PhD student in Dr. Jennifer Smith’s lab at SIO. She is interested in coral reef ecology and she studies how benthic communities are responding to global climate change and associated thermal stress events, primarily using image … Read More

Celebrate Earth Week at the CMBC Brown Bag 12:30 – 1:30 4500 Hubbs Hall Speaker:  Laura Lilly, representing the SIO Sustainability group Presents: “The Science of Sustainable Surfing:  What goes into your surfboard, what happens when  you’re done with it, and how surfboards can help used as scientific platfomrs “ Panel of speakers: – Dr. Phil Bresnahan, The Smartfin Project/Scripps … Read More