麻豆传媒

Sophia Ruh 鈥�25, president of the University of New Haven鈥檚 Marine Conservation Society, is proud to be a vocal supporter of the University鈥檚 marine and environmental sciences major.

鈥淚 cannot say enough good things about this program,鈥� says Ruh, a peer tutor for her classmates. 鈥淲hile content in the sciences may be challenging, the professors do an amazing job of preparing us in the best way for our future, from giving field experience and teaching you how to write a lab report freshman year to guiding you while designing your own research project senior year. This program really builds you from the ground up, and there's support all along the way.鈥�

Ruh reflected on her experiences as a 麻豆传媒 as University of New Haven and City of New Haven leaders came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the University鈥檚 new Robert M. Lee and Linda M. Wilkins Marine Science Center at the Canal Dock Boathouse on the Long Island Sound.

鈥淲hile the program is already filled with tons of hands-on experience, Canal Dock is only going to increase those opportunities for the students,鈥� said Ruh who plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree before pursuing a career in marine fisheries or oceanography. 鈥淲ith direct access to the Sound, students are going to be able to work in the environment that we're learning about in the classroom, which is really awesome. The professors here have prepared me for the future, and I'm super confident in taking the next steps when I graduate.鈥�

鈥榃e hope to inspire鈥�

Located on the shore of the Long Island Sound, the Lee and Wilkins Marine Science Center serves as the anchor for the University鈥檚 Marine and Life Sciences programs, which includes a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marine and environmental sciences, with concentrations in marine biology, marine policy, and environmental science, as well as master鈥檚 degrees in environmental science and marine policy and management.

鈥淥ur students learn by doing, whether it's inside the classroom, in the laboratory or out in the field,鈥� said Amy Carlile, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and environmental science and assistant dean for faculty and curriculum for the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淚n addition to having a profound impact on our academic programs, this center will allow us the space we need to further our community engagement work and help us achieve our vision to become a hub for marine education and outreach for the greater New Haven community.

鈥淲e hope to inspire the next generation of marine and environmental scientists while also connecting the greater New Haven Community with their blue backyard,鈥� Dr. Carlile continued.

鈥楶rivate university with a public mission鈥�

President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., described the University鈥檚 programs in marine and environmental sciences as among the best in the region, saying 鈥渢hey are only going to get better with this facility.

鈥淭hese programs are centered around, like many programs at the University of New Haven, hands-on, high-impact, and practical learning experiences,鈥� explained Dr. Frederiksen. 鈥淲e are deeply concerned about delivering a return on investment for our students and that is in terms of joining the workforce as well as collective impact and community benefit.

鈥淲e frequently talk at the University of New Haven about being a private university with a public mission,鈥� continued President Jen Frederiksen. 鈥淲hat could be more to the public benefit than environmental sustainability as, in many ways, that's the condition for the possibility of everything else we do.鈥�

鈥楬elp impact the environmental trajectory鈥�

explained that the Canal Dock Boathouse, which officially opened in 2018, will be the centerpiece of the revitalization of the Long Wharf area in New Haven.

鈥淵ou are going to look down this corridor a few years out and see a coastline that has dramatically changed,鈥� he said, noting the city has received more than $200 million in federal funding to support this work.

鈥淲e're excited that these students have chosen a pathway in which they will be researching and using tools that impact the environmental trajectory of our country and our world to make sure that we pass on a world that is safer and more beautiful,鈥� said Mayor Elicker. 鈥淲e're grateful to the students for stepping up to this challenge.鈥�