Most people in Florida spend their summer in the water, but Rose Santana preferred to study it. Thanks to a grant from our Foundation, Rose completed an internship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg studying seagrass and the effects of water quality, fishing practices, and climate change on its development.
Our Foundation was proud to fund the internship in partnership with Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science to promote diversity in conservation and marine sciences. With additional support for professional development, this initiative not only fosters research but also ensures long-term success and retention for underrepresented groups in the field.
“I decided very early I wanted to study marine biology,” said Rose. “My grandfathers on both sides of my family are anglers from the Dominican Republic so the ocean is very important to our island life.”
Rose’s research consisted of small glass jars with five seagrass shoots in each jar, each growing in a different water temperature. Care for each jar included near-daily water changes and meticulous data collection, noting changes in the growth of the seagrass shoots and how they responded to multiple stressors. And her research could not come at a better time: declining water quality and temperature change due to climate change have caused a massive seagrass die-off on Florida’s east coast.
Encouraging diversity in science isn’t just about fairness—it’s about strengthening the field. Different perspectives bring new ideas, deeper cultural insights, and innovative approaches to solving today’s complex environmental challenges. As we support researchers like Rose, we are helping to shape a more inclusive and resilient future for both our ecosystems and the people working to conserve them.
