{"id":14896,"date":"2021-03-22T12:33:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T16:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=14896"},"modified":"2024-08-20T10:30:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T14:30:06","slug":"letter-from-the-executive-director-spring-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/letter-from-the-executive-director-spring-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from the Executive Director"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
In this issue, Lauren D. Pharr, a science communicator with North Carolina Sea Grant \u2014 and a scientist in her own right \u2014 profiles women and men facing challenges of being Black researchers in the aquatic sciences. Austin Gray, former joint fellow with North Carolina Sea Grant and the Water Resources Research Institute.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s hoping that you have enjoyed some sights and sounds of spring already, maybe even some examples very close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arrival of spring last year came just as the impacts of a global pandemic moved from theory to reality. Within a matter of days, it seemed, our lives focused on remote work and schooling, face coverings in public, and social distancing. For many, the impacts were much more dramatic life disruptions and illness. Our hearts especially go out to those who have felt deep loss in the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While many of these societal changes are with us into 2021, our team at North Carolina Sea Grant has continued our work on many fronts. For a quick two-page snapshot of some of our recent accomplishments, visit go.ncsu.edu\/yearly-snapshot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\nSigns of Spring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n