Lyndsey Tanabe, 2015 Hollings Scholar
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Islands Region (PIR) takes advantage of every opportunity to provide internships for college students. The NOAA Office of Education Hollings Scholar program has provided the PIR with outstanding interns over the past few years, and this year is no exception. The PIR welcomes Lyndsey Tanabe, our 2015 Hollings Scholar, at the Kihei Maui office. Lyndsey, a Hawaii native, is a senior at Dickinson College, and expects to graduate next year with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science.
"These internships are helping to grow capacity in our islands. We hope that Lyndsey can apply her experiences here and eventually return to Hawaii as a working scientist", said Allen Tom, PIR's Regional Director.
Lyndsey will focus her research efforts on the Ko'ie'ie Fishpond, surveying the biodiversity found not only inside, but also outside the pond. The Fishpond is adjacent to the sanctuary, and is over 400 years old. Her data will supplement previous studies conducted on the fishpond, including one by a previous Hollings scholar two years ago. Lyndsey will present her findings to NOAA at the Hollings Scholar conference at the end of the summer.