Joshua Voss, Ryan Eckert, Lexie Sturm, and Ashley Carreiro had an engaging and stimulating week with colleagues at the recent 2023 Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Gordon Research Conference in Ventura, California. This conference brings together the world's leaders in mesophotic research for a week of exchanging ideas and pushing the limits of the field. Josh presented in the Connectivity session and served as the discussion leader for the Disturbances session as well. Ryan, Lexie, and Ashley gave oral presentations in the early career focused Gordon Research Symposium as well as poster presentations in broader GRC. We are very proud to announce that Ryan was awarded Best Overall Student Presentation for the conference, receiving a beautiful Shearwater Teric dive computer in recognition of his achievement.
We are incredibly grateful to all our colleagues for such an outstanding event, particularly conference chair Marc Slattery from Ole Miss, and vice-chairs Tyler Smith from University of the Virgin Islands, and Heather Spalding from College of Charleston. Ryan was elected to co-chair the next Mesophotic GRS, and Josh will rotate into the roles of vice-chair and then chair over the next two Mesophotic GRC cycles along with friend and colleague Gretchen Goodbody at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
We are incredibly grateful to all our colleagues for such an outstanding event, particularly conference chair Marc Slattery from Ole Miss, and vice-chairs Tyler Smith from University of the Virgin Islands, and Heather Spalding from College of Charleston. Ryan was elected to co-chair the next Mesophotic GRS, and Josh will rotate into the roles of vice-chair and then chair over the next two Mesophotic GRC cycles along with friend and colleague Gretchen Goodbody at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
