Coralline Algae: The Unsung Architects of Coral Reefs

Maggie Johnson is a third-year PhD student in the Smith Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This is a blog she wrote for the Smithsonian Institution’s Ocean Portal describing her recent cruise to the Southern Line Islands, along with other researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.

2013 Expedition: Journey to the Southern Line Islands

Members of the Smith Lab, along with other collaborators, have begun their one month journey to the Southern Line Islands, a group of uninhabitated islands in the central Pacific, to gather more information on how coral reef ecosystems are altered by human activities.

Introducing… Abby Cannon, PhD Student

Abby Cannon is one of the newest PhD students in the Smith Lab. She gives us a brief glimpse into how she’s preparing for graduate school and her new exciting research studying queen conchs.

Smith Lab Ocean Acidification Experiments Featured in the Environmental Monitor

The Environmental Monitor is a journal, published by Fondriest Environmental, that covers topics like products, projects and trends in the environmental monitoring industry. It aims to keep professionals informed about developments in their field. Members of the Smith Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Hamilton Lab at Moss Landing Marine Labs have been performing several experiments that look at … Read More

Coral Club with Nick Graham

The San Diego Coral Club is a monthly informal gathering of coral reef researchers visiting or working in the San Diego area. From students to established scientists, these coral reef enthusiasts have the opportunity to present preliminary data and discuss hot research topics among their peers. Also it’s a great environment to develop new collaborations and exchange ideas about coral reef science and the conservation of tropical reefs over wine and pizza.

Scripps Ladies Return from Research Trip in Palmyra

Nickednamed the “Scripps Ladies,” Smith Lab members Amanda Carter and Maggie Johnson, along with Sandin Lab member Kate Furby spent 3 weeks of their summer in Palmyra, a uninhabited atoll part of the Line Islands in the Northern Pacific.  The Sandin and Smith Lab of UCSD/SIO have had ongoing research in the Line Islands for years, studying “baseline” coral reefs … Read More

Smith Lab Collects Data From Year Long Ocean Acidification Experiment

Members of the Smith Lab have been hard at work in collaboration with Emily Donham from Scott Hamilton’s Lab at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories to collect data from a year long ocean acidification experiment looking at effects of pH on marine benthic communities in kelp beds.

Smith Lab is in Full Swing for Summer

Master’s student Samantha Clements summarizes the ongoing summer activities of the Smith Lab. From research travels around the world to data processing right here at home, there’s no such thing as summer break from science… and it’s awesome!

Coral Reef Ambassadors

Jill Harris, a PhD student in the Smith Lab takes part of Coral Reef Ambassadors, a cross cultural program designed to encourage youths from San Diego and Taiwan to learn more about coral reef ecology.