Three recipients of the Marine Education Fellowship and two international fellows from Queen’s University Belfast have joined the education team at the UGA Aquarium on Skidaway Island.
The marine education fellows are participating in a year-long program that offers early-career professionals hands-on experience in environmental education, animal husbandry and coastal extension. Fellows teach a variety of field, lab and classroom programs for visiting school groups while also assisting behind the scenes in the aquarium. Through professional development and networking opportunities, the fellows build connections with marine educators, researchers and conservationists in coastal Georgia over the course of their fellowship.
The two international fellows, joining through a collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, are part of the university’s Marine Biology and Professional Studies degree program. This program includes a 40-week work placement where students apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, developing skills in marine science, creative problem-solving, leadership and innovation. While working at the aquarium, the international fellows will engage in marine education and animal husbandry and conduct a short-term research project on Georgia’s coast to support their studies at Queen’s University Belfast.
Together, these five educators will contribute to the UGA Aquarium’s mission to engage the public in marine science education and promote the stewardship of Georgia’s coastal ecosystems.
Meet the 2024-2025 fellows:
Marine Education Fellow
Kira Davis is from Marietta, Georgia. She graduated with a bachelor’s in biology with an emphasis in marine biology from the University of Georgia. Davis gained interest in marine education and outreach after a study abroad program in Australia in 2022, which emphasized the importance of public education on environmental topics. She has experience studying nematode species through UGA’s Marine Science Department and has supported sea turtle research using genetic tagging at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
Marine Education Fellow
Taina Sanchez is from Crestview, Florida. She graduated from University of Miami with a degree in marine biology and ecology. In college, Sanchez experienced Miami’s tropical environments, studying corals and coastal resilience, and she spent three months in the Galapagos as part of a study abroad program. Prior to the fellowship, she worked as an educator for a non-profit, serving the local watershed from the bay to the beach.
Marine Education Fellow
John Mark Polk is from Concord, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State University and majored in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. As an undergrad, he completed a minor in environmental education, gaining experience with citizen science projects, common curricula and volunteering with organizations focused on environmental education, such as the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Before becoming a fellow, he worked at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge helping with education programs and day camps.
International Fellow
Kate Milne is from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is currently studying marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast. Milne enjoys sharing her passion for marine ecosystems. Through her degree, she has been involved in various research projects, including zooplankton sampling and habitat fragmentation studies.
International Fellow
Zoe Stalham is from London, England. She is majoring in marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast. She has a passion for marine research and citizen science and is particularly focused on biological oceanography and plankton studies. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. that would allow her to conduct meaningful research and collaborate with communities to foster scientific understanding and effective communication.