We recently welcomed our Fall 2021 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF. They will support the REEF team by assisting with annual events like the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival and REEF Fest, as well as education and outreach programs and daily operations around the REEF Campus. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF. They include:
Emily Boll graduated from Bowling Green State University with a B.S. in marine biology. During college, she participated in the Coastal Ocean Studies Program at Williams-Mystic in Connecticut, where she attended field seminars and classes, and conducted research on the importance of policies for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Monument off the New England coast. She observed the effects of microplastics in the ocean during a 12-day offshore voyage in the Gulf of Maine, and has also worked in Alaska, where she studied fisheries, researched environmental stressors, and learned from Alaskan natives. Emily is looking forward to being able to contribute to outreach and conservation with other passionate REEF interns and learn more about invasive lionfish.
Lauren Mahoney grew up in the Netherlands, and earned a B.S. in biology with a marine concentration and a minor in environmental science from Duke University. In college, she spent two summers at the Duke Marine Lab studying invertebrate zoology and sea turtle conservation, and even became a Marine Lab Ambassador at Duke's main campus. She also worked in a laboratory researching environmental interactions in plants, and spent a summer in Madagascar as a coral restoration intern. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school and study marine biology. She hopes to pursue a career in conservation and research, and aspires to become a SCUBA instructor. Lauren is delighted to be part of the REEF team this fall and cannot wait to help make a difference, no matter how big or small.
Lauryn Magno graduated from Oakland University with a B.A. in international relations and a minor in music. Originally from Michigan, she is passionate about environmental stewardship, social sciences, and environmental policy. Lauryn has worked in various policy offices, including two summers on Capitol Hill and a year in the U.S. Embassy’s Pacific ESTH Hub in Suva, Fiji, where she completed research on international deep sea mining governance. Lauryn is interested in marine and coastal resource governance, and is excited to combine her research experience with her enthusiasm for education and community outreach. In the future, she plans to attend an interdisciplinary marine systems and policies graduate program.
Our interns are a vital part of REEF and we couldn’t accomplish our work without them. For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.