Anamika Das Kona, a Master of Science student in Ocean & Earth Sciences at Old Dominion University was awarded the 2025 Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Legacy Fund scholarship.

Whose lab do you work in?

I work in the Bio-Optical Research Group, led by Dr. Victoria Hill and Dr. Richard Zimmerman. Our lab studies how light interacts with marine ecosystems, including projects on seagrass, blue carbon storage, and water quality.

What do you get to do being awarded this scholarship?

Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to expand my training beyond the lab and fieldwork by attending a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) training workshop. This experience will give me valuable insight into how environmental policy shapes conservation decisions and reinforces the connection between scientific research and real-world ecological management.

What type of research do you get to do and why does it matter to people?

My research looks at two seagrass species in the Chesapeake Bay, eelgrass and widgeon grass, and how they are coping with climate change. Eelgrass, which has supported the Bay for decades, is now struggling with hotter summers, while widgeon grass is starting to spread. By studying how these plants grow and respond to changes in temperature, salinity, and water chemistry, I can help predict what the Bay鈥檚 underwater meadows will look like in the future.

This matters because seagrass meadows are more than just plants; they are the foundation of a healthy Bay. They provide nursery grounds for blue crabs and fish, keep the water clean and clear, protect shorelines from erosion, and even capture carbon that helps fight climate change. If these meadows disappear or shift, it directly affects the seafood we eat, the water we drink, and the resilience of coastal communities. My work helps ensure that decision-makers have the science they need to protect both the Bay鈥檚 ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and wise stewardship of estuarine and coastal ecosystems worldwide.