Suffolk Reporter

Alyson Lowell, a PhD student at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), has been granted the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship by New York Sea Grant (NYSG). This prestigious fellowship will see her working as a legislative fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Lowell's research focuses on how seagrasses and calcifiers react to stressors such as coastal acidification, rising sea surface temperatures, and emerging diseases. She aims to contribute to the intersection of science and policy, stating, “I plan to apply freely shared knowledge to accelerate our understanding of ecosystem resiliency in the face of environmental variability.”

Her work has provided insights into how environmental changes impact coastal ecosystems both locally and internationally. Through her involvement with the non-profit organization Remote Ecologist, she has helped local stakeholders restore degraded reefs in Colombia's Caribbean islands. In New York’s Shinnecock Bay, she studied the effects of coastal acidification on nearshore communities to support commercial fishermen.

This year marks a milestone for the Knauss Fellowship program as all eligible Sea Grant programs are represented by early-career professionals applying their expertise in Washington, D.C., alongside federal agencies or legislative offices. They aim to tackle key issues related to marine and Great Lakes conservation.

Lowell is joined by four other fellows from New York: Kahad Adamu from the University at Buffalo, Beryl Kahn from City University of New York, Patricia McKee from Pace University, and Dawn Parry from Cornell University. NYSG Director Becky Shuford expressed enthusiasm about their journey: “We are beyond excited for the adventure these five dynamic, passionate, and visionary new Knauss Fellows are embarking on, on behalf of the Nation’s coastal communities, economies, and environments. They are sure to make a transformational impact.”

The Knauss Fellowship has supported over 1,660 students in its 45-year history who have made significant contributions to environmental policy and management.

New York Sea Grant is part of 34 university-based programs under NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program. It collaborates with various stakeholders to develop science-based information for coastal users.

For more details, refer to the full NYSG press release.