Samantha Rosa was selected to join the esteemed cohort of NOAA’s Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellows. Rosa is a graduate student in the Gruner and Espíndola Labs.
As part of the fellowship, Samantha will conduct collaborative research with the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ka-waha-o-ka-manō on the island of O‘ahu. Her research will focus on developing K-12 Community-Driven Science curriculum and programming that draws on Indigenous and contemporary knowledge to empower children and educators to lead biocultural restoration and management of Hawai‘i's cultural and ecological systems. Samantha is excited to contribute her experience as a classroom teacher and ecologist towards enhancing the education programs at the only NOAA reserve formally recognized as an Indigenous and community-conserved area.
Samantha's co-advisor, Dan Gruner, shares in the excitement of her NOAA recognition saying, “This fellowship is a testament to Samantha's creativity and high motivation to co-design inquiry-based science curricula that center the needs of the learning population. I hope this is what the future looks like.”
