The Water School

Dr. Melissa May is an invertebrate ecologist and physiologist, who specializes in understanding how marine bivalves respond to environmental stressors. Since joining FGCU in Fall 2020, she has developed a long-term oyster monitoring program in Estero Bay, FL, and is currently working on hard clam and seagrass co-restoration efforts in Charlotte Harbor and Estero Bay, FL. Her talk will highlight some recent work conducted by her laboratory on the behavioral responses of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, to various environmental parameters, including temperature, salinity, food availability, and turbidity. 

Dr. María del Pilar Blanco Parra holds a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences and Limnology from UNAM (Mexico). Her research focuses on the biology, ecology, and conservation of fish, with a particular emphasis on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). Her work integrates diverse approaches including age and growth studies, trophic ecology, population genetics, telemetry, and fisheries management. She has conducted research in highly biodiverse marine and freshwater ecosystems such as the Colombian Amazon, Gulf of California, Mexican Caribbean, Galápagos Islands, and the Arabian Gulf.​ Over the past decade, Dr. Blanco Parra has been involved with national and international oceanographic campaigns (UNAM, NOAA) and served as a Research Fellow for the Mexican government, based at the University of Quintana Roo. There, she led a long-term project titled “Implementing Monitoring Strategies for Priority Aquatic Megafauna Conservation in the Mexican Caribbean.” She has been a member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group since 2019 and joined FGCU in February 2025.​

Dr. Barry Rosen is a World-class scholar and professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies since 2019.  He recently authored Color Atlas of Freshwater Algae: Comprehensive Identification Guide, Including Harmful Algal Blooms, a 450-page book, with over 1300 color images being published by Springer Nature.  He teaches courses in Freshwater Algal Ecology and Everglades Restoration.

ResiliencEE 

Watch the documentary Rising: Surviving the Surge and discover SWFL resiliency efforts from a panel discussion taking place after the screening.    Rising: Surviving the Surge   A gripping exploration of Hurricane Ian, the 2022 storm that forever changed Southwest Florida.   As survivors tried to rise from the wreckage, the storms kept coming. With dramatic storm footage, powerful stories of resilience, and insights from scientists, first responders, and community leaders, "Rising" is a wake-up call to the new reality of storm surge.   The film reveals the science behind the destruction and the persistent threat of storm surge from the coast to the heart of the state. Rising offers a vital reminder for storm preparedness when it matters most.   Open to the public Reception from 5:00-5:30pm Film from 5:30-6:30pm Panel Discussion 6:30-7:30pm