What is SCOPE?
In the world of scientific research, a group of dedicated individuals are making waves, fostering curiosity, and promoting environmental stewardship. This community is known as SCOPE, an acclaimed programme focused on nurturing scientific interest, enhancing STEM education, and providing opportunities for graduate students and researchers in scientific outreach and communication.
SCOPE, an abbreviation for its mission, stands for Scientific Curiosity, Outreach, and Public Engagement. The organisation is run by a dynamic team of volunteer graduate student coordinators, each bringing their unique perspectives and research focus areas to the table.
One such member is Kasey Castello, who lived in Japan for 2 and a half years and climbed Mt. Fuji. Kasey's research revolves around humpback whales and their intricate songs, aiming to identify and track whale species in the open ocean with no human input.
Another member, Danya Awshah, studies pyrosomes, gelatinous plankton, and their chemical and biological interactions with their ocean environment. Interestingly, Danya's name means "near" in Arabic, mirroring her close connection to the marine world.
The SCOPE community is a diverse one, with members like Anya Štajner, who worked as a character actor before becoming a PhD student. Anya, who joined SCOPE as a coordinator in 2022, studies Biological Oceanography, focusing on the tolerance of pteropods to the effects of climate change.
ShaNNON DOLAN, another coordinator since 2023, studies goose-beaked whales and their foraging behavior in deep-sea ecosystems. Before joining SCOPE, ShaNNON trekked over 500 kilometers to complete the Camino de Santiago in Spain the summer before beginning grad school.
Besides these notable members, SCOPE also includes Maitreyi Nagarkar, Christine Reif, Kelli Mullane, Fernando Gonzalez, Lisa Munger, Lauren A. Freeman, Jessica Carilli, Melissa Garren, Summer Martin, Brooke Rasina, Shelby Jones-Cervantes, Alison LaBonte, and Erik Saberski.
Moreover, Kate Nesbit, a member of SCOPE, has a website at https://knesbitresearch.com. Her research focuses on understanding the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of marine communities.
While the specifics of the current SCOPE coordinators' research focus areas could not be determined from the available resources, it is clear that SCOPE is a hub of scientific innovation and a testament to the spirit of collaboration and discovery in the scientific community.
SCOPE, an organization dedicated to Scientific Curiosity, Outreach, and Public Engagement, is a hub of scientific innovation, fostering its members' interests in various areas of research such as humpback whales (Kasey Castello), pyrosomes (Danya Awshah), Biological Oceanography (Anya Štajner), goose-beaked whales (ShaNNON DOLAN), and pteropods (Anya Štajner). Additionally, the organization supports lifelong education and self-development, with members like Kate Nesbit, who is involved in research focusing on marine communities to advance scientific understanding and education.
