A high school research team at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) has been awarded a competitive federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study ocean acidification's impact on Alabama's oyster industry.

The ASMS team, led by biology faculty members Dr. Rebecca Domangue and Dr. Natalie Ortell, is the only high school-level group to receive funding through NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program Education Mini-grant Program. According to a news release, the grant supports projects that raise awareness about ocean acidification, enhance ocean literacy and encourage interest in careers aligned with NOAA's mission.

Through the ASMS Research Fellows Program, students conduct advanced research alongside faculty mentors. This year, six students are exploring ocean acidification under the theme: "Alabama Oysters Taste Best with Tabasco, Not Ocean Acidification." Their projects focus on how acidification affects the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), a key species in Alabama's coastal economy.

Ocean acidification, caused primarily by the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide into ocean waters, lowers pH levels and threatens marine life. Alabama's oyster industry, an integral part of the Gulf Coast economy, is particularly vulnerable. Domangue and Ortell hope their research will not only expand scientific understanding but also inspire adaptive solutions among the state's youth.

The NOAA grant funds six student-led projects examining various aspects of ocean acidification:

• Lillian Abernathy, a senior from Geneva County, is studying calcium-binding proteins in Crassostrea virginica as indicators of pH stress.

• Naria Khristoforova, a senior from Shelby County, is evaluating the impact of phytochemicals on reducing oyster pathogen susceptibility.

• BoKyeong Kim, a junior from Autauga County, is investigating the effects of ocean acidification, Perkinsus marinus, and submerged vegetation on oyster hemocyte apoptosis.

• Hyerin Park, a junior from Autauga County, is examining how ocean acidification influences oyster susceptibility to Perkinsus marinus.

• Kayty Phan, a junior from Mobile County, is researching acidification's impact on Pif gene expression in oysters.

• Emma Kate South, a junior from Baldwin County, is analyzing how lower pH levels affect nitrogen cycle productivity in oyster pallial fluid.

Beyond the individual research projects, the NOAA grant has enhanced classroom learning in ASMS's BL400-2 course, which integrates ocean acidification science, career development and environmental stewardship. Students have conducted empirical lab experiments, used NOAA weather and ocean monitoring data and visited Bama Bay Oysters, a local oyster farm, to observe real-world industry impacts.

This initiative addresses a gap in ocean acidification education in Alabama and highlights the crucial link between marine science and the state's seafood industry. By fostering hands-on research and community engagement, ASMS aims to equip students with the knowledge to contribute to the sustainability of Alabama's coastal economy.