Greetings,

While most research at FHL for its 110+ years has focused on marine organisms and habitats — especially seaweeds, invertebrates and fishes — a generous donation in the last year has allowed us to “expand the tent.” We offered fellowships to “new” scientists who have never worked at FHL but who are faculty at UW or other institutions to come and work here for several weeks or months to see if this is a location where their research can be effectively accomplished. Thanks to these funds, we attracted 4 new scientists here this summer and will get another 4-5 next summer. We have always offered research fellowships to graduate students, but these faculty research funds are a new experiment — and as the following essay shows, a very successful one! All of the new scientists who came to FHL this summer plan to return, hope to bring their graduate students with them, and in some cases write grant proposals to support such new research efforts. I am particularly enthusiastic about work like Jessica’s, which broadens the research focus of FHL to include the atmosphere: such novel directions can lead to exciting collaborations!

Best,

Dr. Megan Dethier

FHL Director