CMAST Student Attends Conference

NC State Semester at CMAST student, Alden Mazo, spent last week enhancing her knowledge about sea turtle research at the Southeast Regional Sea Turtle Meeting in Hilton Head, SC, through the Caretta Research Project.  Mazo says, “It was an incredible [opportunity] to hear about all of the awesome sea turtle research that is being done in the region and connect with other sea turtle biologists. The Caretta Research Project is a loggerhead sea turtle research and conservation project on Wassaw Island, Georgia.”

Mazo says she started volunteering with the Caretta Research Project in 2021 and now serves as an intern during the summer nesting seasons.  “I have been involved with sea turtle research since I was 16 and hope to continue it as I progress through my education and career. It is an awesome community, and I hope to continue contributing to our knowledge of sea turtles in the future. Thank you to the University Honors Program for funding this experience!”

In addition to her interest in sea turtles, Mazo says as a Semester at CMAST student this spring, “I am working with Dr. Stacy Zhang, Dr. Tal Ben-Horin, and the Coastal Carolina Riverwatch to do research and create outreach materials on blue crab pathogens. I am super excited to be part of this project, and I am learning many lab, field, and outreach techniques that will help me with future projects as well.”