News from the AFA - A final farewell to Dr. Larry Kelts
Winter Greetings and Happy Holidays to the Shoals Community:
The time between Thanksgiving and mid-January has always been a time for family, friends, and gratitude for me. I come from a large, dispersed, complicated family that celebrates events and holidays whenever we are together, so this season is extremely special for me. This is the time that I reflect on (and often share) key moments through the year.
2024 was an amazing year for me. I started the new year excited about joining the Shoals team. I have been welcomed warmly by and reconnected with so many friends and colleagues from across the years and across the globe (Jim Coyer and Ric Martini travelled extensively, virtually around the world)! The students, faculty, researchers, and staff made the summer incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the range of SML classes (and learning lots of new information). Seeing the students excited about what they were learning, engaging with the faculty and staff, learning from students in other courses, and exploring the island was so heartening. The Rock Talks, career panels, and coffee houses (the modern version of the banquet) helped create the all-island community, which was on full display when the bulk of the island was line dancing in Kiggins! With all of the modern technology and communications, I was concerned about how Shoals would continue to create the tight-knit community that I have loved for years. Seeing the magic of Appledore recreated with each group of classes laid that concern to rest. Appledore and SML foster a strong connection between people and with the environment.
On a personal note, I met my own personal goals for 2024. I paddleboarded around Appledore numerous times. Did you know it is almost exactly 2 miles to circumnavigate the island (depending on the tide)? I went hagfishing with Doug Fudge and got slimed by a hagfish (I know it is crazy that I had never done that before). And I banded my first Black Guillemot, thanks to Liz Craig and the seabird SURGs. What a great year!!
As we head into the holiday season and the end of 2024, we are in the midst of our end-of-year appeal, which recognizes the importance of our donors to help fund scholarships and our summer operations. At this time, we are also announcing an ambitious campaign to raise $6 million for our 60th anniversary. We describe both the campaign and our goals later in the newsletter. Both Cornell and UNH have encouraged us and offered to support our work to build our capacity to support students and to address infrastructure needs.
I will end with my sincere gratitude for all the people who continue to advance the mission of Shoals. We are a strong and tight community, one that feels more like family. The Shoals family has made my 2024 an extremely rewarding one. Thank you!
An Ambitious Campaign:
$6M for the 60th
As we head into 2025, Shoals is celebrating 60 years of impactful, educational experiences. We are embarking on an ambitious campaign of raising $6 million for our 60th anniversary. During Sara's tenure as director, SML's goals will focus on:
Building additional scholarship support for students
Replacing the R/V John M. Kingsbury
Building new faculty housing
Expanding and modernizing PK lab
Our campaign is blended, recognizing both the importance of annual giving toward supporting each year's students and the need to build our endowments at Cornell and UNH to ensure our support will continue into the future. Every dollar of support will help us meet this goal and will help support our educational mission. While many universities tout immersive education, Shoals truly provides transformational, immersive, place-based education, and we want to make sure it has the financial resources to do so in perpetuity.
In 1966, Jack Kingsbury was a visionary when he conceived the Shoals Marine Lab. Jack Kingsbury, John Anderson, Art Borror, Ollie Hewitt, J.B. Heiser, and so many others created a unique learning environment on Appledore, and the staff and faculty of Shoals continue the modern version of their vision. Our development activities will be honoring their work with our motto “Advancing the Mission, Ensuring the Legacy.” We encourage our supporters to help us ensure their legacy by supporting any aspect of the island community that resonates with you.
Donations may be designated to our annual fund (unrestricted) or to a specific fund or initiative. Please contact Amy Fishif you would like to discuss the options for support.
Scholarship awards are a point of pride for SML. We aim to provide the opportunity to learn on Appledore to as many students as possible. These students are so grateful for their experiences at Shoals and are always happy to share what it meant to them.
Quotes from our future scientists in 2024
“I was surprised by the tight-knit community of Shoals. Everyone is so passionate about their own unique field, and you can find an expert on almost any topic.
My experience at Shoals has shown me how marine science is both tough and incredibly rewarding. I will always hold my SML experience close to me as I make decisions that might impact the oceans and world.” - Remzi Abaci, Princeton
“During my time at SML, I have learned that there are so many marine-related undergraduate opportunities out there. I also think that I learned the importance of talking to my professors and that it's not as intimidating as I think it is to reach out to them.” - Eclipse Conroy, Cornell
“Learning at Shoals has made me feel more prepared for my future. It's great to get all these hands-on skills and learn from experts. It's very intense, but I've been able to learn so much. I feel a lot more prepared because now I have all these skills that I wouldn't have learned in other classes.” - Kelsea
Carmichael, UNH
“I was surprised how effective yet simple the commitments of Shoals to sustainability were. The composting toilets were fascinating and the 2 showers per week were very doable. It makes me consider the switches I can make in my everyday life to live more sustainably.” - Laura Marquez, Cornell
“The connections here are really cool. It feels so genuine how the teachers here try to help you build a career. I got to talk to people in the field in so many different ways, and I think those connections are one thing I will take with me. The people, the memories, and communicating my science. I have learned so much.” - Emma Acri, Cornell
“My experience at Shoals has taught me that my interest in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture is something I really want to do. I got to meet a lot of professors and faculty and other students who have gotten involved in that field, which has furthered my passion for it. I also feel like being here has given me a much larger network outside of UNH which has allowed me to find other opportunities.” - Ellie Petit, UNH
“I was surprised by the diversity in faculty, but also the people on island in terms of what they do with their careers. I really didn’t think there was a space for me in science. I was able to learn more about what possibilities there are and it's made me a lot more hopeful about what I can do in the future.” - Miradyn Feist, Cornell
“Thank you for making Shoals such an incredible place to be and a possibility for students like me. Without people like you who care about investing in future generations and not just science, but also caring for our world, we can’t make it a better place to be, so thank you.” - Elijah St. Pierre, UNH
SML Class Schedule for 2025
We strive to evolve our classes to meet the demands of today's marine scientists and are excited about the offerings during our 60th season on Appledore.
Field Ornithology
Biological Illustration (pending final approval)
Field Bioacoustics and Soundscape Ecology (pending final approval)
Marine Mammal Biology
Marine Parasitology & Disease
R by the Sea
Sustainable Fisheries
Anatomy and Function of Marine Vertebrates
Applied Science Communication
Field Animal Behavior
Evolution and Marine Diversity
Marine Ecosystem Research and Management
Investigative Marine Biology Laboratory
Shark Biology and Conservation
Underwater Research
Research in Biology
Marine Environmental Science - High School
Introduction to the Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays - High School
Marine Vertebrates of the Gulf of Maine - High School
Marine Immersion - UNH pre-freshman only
Diane Foster Joins the WHOI Team
Dr. Diane Foster, the Director of the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE) and Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, is leaving UNH at the end of the calendar year to take the role of Vice President for Academic Programs and
Dean at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Diane has been a true ally for the lab, advocating the importance of SML's mission to key partners at both UNH and Cornell while sharing her passion of marine science as a
frequent guest on Appledore. She has been instrumental in increasing grant supported infrastructure projects through partnerships with UNH faculty.
Diane truly understood the magic of Appledore and the community we create,
and she never wanted to leave the island without doing a stint washing dishes.
We are very fortunate to continue our connections with Diane in her new role at
Woods Hole. This is not goodbye, just until we meet again…(on Appledore!)
News From The AFA
Alumni and Friends Association
If you are enthusiastic about what SML has done for you either personally
and/or professionally, consider getting more involved with the AFA.
Please reach out to Jackie Webb, our AFA Interim Chair to learn more.
Who exactly is an SML Alum?
SML is redefining what it means to be an alum because no one “graduates” from the lab,
and everyone on the island contributes to our tight-knit community.
So, if you took a class, taught a class, worked as staff, conducted research, or volunteered, you are officially an alum of the Shoals Marine Lab and a member of the AFA!
News From Our Community
News from Our Community is a space to share news with Shoalers.
If you have something you'd like to share, please contact Jackie Webb
A Final Farewell to Dr. Larry Kelts
It is with sadness and a heavy heart to announce the passing of Dr. Larry Kelts.
Dr. Kelts was a beloved professor at Shoals Marine Lab for many years,
and an alum of both Cornell and UNH. Appledore Island, “the best classroom ever”
was his happy place and he loved nothing more than teaching students on the island.
You can read more about the impact he had on the world
both personally and professionally in his obituary:
