Students Make a Splash As They Dive Back Into Summer Camp
July 09, 2021
ECOGIG's 6th annual Ocean Discovery Camp made a splash with campers, who got to design their very own underwater robots, plus SO much more!
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Ten Years of Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science
June 17, 2021
A special issue of Oceanography Magazine has been released, highlighting the results of research funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
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Zack & Molly Go Where NO ONE Has Been Before!
April 02, 2021
Join our deep sea duo on their 5th adventure together!
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A Decade After Deepwater
December 14, 2020
This episode by Changing Seas, featuring ECOGIG researchers, won a Suncoast Emmy!
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Deep Benthic Faunal Impacts and Resilience After Deepwater Horizon
November 25, 2020
This recent paper pulls together all the impacts and recovery to the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem, in particular the deep benthic communities, after the 2010 oil spill.
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Deep-Sea Heroes 2020
November 25, 2020
In the latest edition of ECOMagazine 2020, ECOGIG director Dr. Mandy Joye was chosen as an Extreme Life & Ecosystems hero!
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Best of Blogs Series, Part 3: Five Thousand Dives
September 22, 2020
Follow along as we highlight some previous expeditions, exploring methane hydrates in the deep ocean.
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Best of Blogs Series Part 2: Truly Extreme
September 15, 2020
Follow along as we highlight some previous expeditions, exploring methane hydrates in the deep ocean.
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Chasing the Methane Dragon That Lurks in the Deep Sea
September 08, 2020
No human had ever explored this particular underwater world. Samantha Joye, an oceanographer and microbiologist, was about to change that.
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The Geology and Biogeochemistry of Hydrocarbon Seeps
September 08, 2020
Read more about hydrocarbon seeps in this new review paper by Dr. Samantha Joye.
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Best of Blog Series Part 1: The Thrill of Discovery
September 08, 2020
Follow along as we highlight some previous expeditions, exploring methane hydrates in the deep ocean.
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Every Snow Often Oil, Microbes, and Sediment Get Together and Sink
July 22, 2020
ECOGIG researcher Dr. Kai Ziervogel is participating in a Sea Grant sponsored webinar to discuss the fate of sinking marine snow and marine oil snow.
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ECOGIG Director Consults on New Ocean-Themed Video Game
June 15, 2020
Beyond Blue, an ocean-themed video game by E-Line Media, is now available to play on multiple platforms!
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Science That Makes Us Better Prepared for the Next Spill: Ocean Flows and Oil Transport
May 28, 2020
Read through research highlights about physical ocean processes that affect how an oil spill moves.
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Deepwater Diaries - part 1
April 20, 2020
Read the thoughts and perspectives of ECOGIG's director Dr. Mandy Joye, 10 years after the Deepwater Horizon accident.
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Deepwater Diaries - part 2
April 20, 2020
Read perspectives from researchers who were there at the beginning - and end - of the largest oil spill in history.
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Scientists Describe Breakthroughs in Genomic Techniques Since Deepwater Horizon
April 14, 2020
ECOGIG Director Dr. Samantha Joye helped to author a feature article for the special edition titled “Deepwater Horizon and the Rise of OMICS” that describes breakthroughs in microbial genomics.
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Will History Repeat Itself?
April 14, 2020
On April 14, 2020, Dr. Ian MacDonald and SkyTruth’s President John Amos led a panel examining the implications of the Deepwater Horizon disaster 10 years later.
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New 4th Episode of The Adventures of Zack and Molly, Deep-Ocean Science for Kids
April 02, 2020
The award-winning animated series “The Adventures of Zack and Molly” released a new episode of kid-friendly science content about the deep ocean.
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Zack & Molly visit the Gulf of California!
March 30, 2020
We are thrilled to announce the 4th video in our Zack & Molly series is now available!
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ECOGIG Presents: School's Out Science!
March 19, 2020
Join us online for a series of fun ocean themed webinars!!
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How Temperature Affects Deep Sea Coral Recovery From Exposure To Pollutants
March 18, 2020
Researchers exposed Lophelia pertusa to a variety of situations to better understand how they respond to different environmental and human-caused stressors.
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Study Provides a Better Understanding of Organic Carbon Pools in the Gulf of Mexico
February 18, 2020
ECOGIG researchers looked at the sources of dissolved organic carbon in the Gulf, and how the oil from the Deepwater Horizon affected them.
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Ocean Discovery Camp registration is open!
February 12, 2020
Our 5th year of camp is going to be the best one yet!
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ECOGIG Director speaks to UGA Foundation Emeritus Trustees
January 26, 2020
Dr. Samantha Joye is a microbiologist, an educator, a deep ocean explorer, and a vocal ocean and environmental advocate.
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Study Describes Seabed Conditions at Oil and Gas Seep Site in Gulf of Mexico
January 24, 2020
Scientists employed autonomous underwater vehicle sensors to provide insights into an active hydrocarbon seep in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Samantha Joye and Simeon Pesch Tell Their Science Stories at Story Collider Event
December 12, 2019
A journey reveals that her voice matters. A trip changes his work motivation. The theme of disaster response frames both of these touching and inspiring science stories.
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Sedimentation of "Lingering" Oil to the Sea Floor after the Deepwater Horizon Accident
December 11, 2019
A signification amount of the spilled oil reached the seafloor and researchers sought to characterize what fell up to a year after the spill.
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Study Assessed Aging Oil Spill Material on the Seafloor and Found Recovery
October 09, 2019
This study assessed sediment at three oil-impacted sites, a natural seep site, and an uncontaminated site to better understand the current conditions of contaminated sediment.
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The Expert Is In!
October 08, 2019
What do marine mammals, deep sea invertebrates, and oil-degrading microbes have in common?
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New Consortium Chosen to Operate New NSF Regional Class Research Vessel
September 11, 2019
This new oceanographic research ship will carry out research in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
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10th Annual Athens Water Festival
September 07, 2019
The Ocean Discovery Zone was a hit at this water themed event at Sandy Creek Park in Athens, GA!
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Insights Into the Degradation of Organic Matter Produced by Oil-Degrading Bacteria
August 23, 2019
ECOGIG researchers investigated the fate of exopolymeric substances (EPS) produced by oil-degrading bacteria in the Gulf of Mexico, and published their findings in the journal Elementa.
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Zack & Molly Shown at Art Museum Event
August 03, 2019
The three-part video series was shown in conjunction with a fun ocean-inspired art project.
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ECOGIG Graduate Student Gives Keynote Speech at Symposium
August 01, 2019
Penn State student Sam Vohsen spoke about his research at the 7th International Symposium on Deep Sea Corals.
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Beyond Blue Coming Soon!
July 31, 2019
A new ocean exploration video game is coming soon to PCs and consoles!
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ECOGIG Student Successfully Defends Masters Thesis
July 22, 2019
Congratulations to Cathrine Shepard, who successfully defended her thesis based on research in the Gulf of Mexico!
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ECOGIG Attends Gordon Research Conference
July 14, 2019
The Applied and Environmental Microbiology Conference was held at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.
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Windows to the Deep 2019
June 21, 2019
NOAA and partners explored the SE Atlantic - DEEP SEARCH team members were onboard as well.
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2019 Ocean Discovery Camp!
June 14, 2019
The fourth year of our camp is in the books!!
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New Insight About Hydrothermally Altered Sediments in the Gulf of California
June 12, 2019
New research sheds light on the generation and utilization of volatile fatty acids and alcohols in the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California.
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Study Gives Snapshot of Key Microbial Oil Biodegradation Mechanisms
May 29, 2019
ECOGIG researchers compiled a two-page summary explaining the complex processes involved in microbial hydrocarbon bioremediation.
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Study Characterizes Ecosystem-Scale Methane Dynamics Following Deepwater Horizon
May 01, 2019
Scientists conducted a time-series investigation of methane concentrations and oxidation rates to describe methane dynamics after the oil spill.
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April 2019 DEEP SEARCH Mission Considered a Great Success!
April 30, 2019
Despite some stormy weather, the whole team worked together to pull off this complex research expedition.
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Growth of Deep Sea Octocorals After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
April 23, 2019
Researchers sought to better understand growth rates and recovery of deep sea corals in the Gulf of Mexico
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First Expedition of DEEP SEARCH 2019 Begins!
April 09, 2019
From April 9 to 30, 2019, researchers will conduct an expedition to the offshore U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic coasts.
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The Evolution of Oil Contaminated Sediments
April 02, 2019
A recent study sought to understand the recovery of marine sediments after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident
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Underwater Mudslides are a Threat to Offshore Drilling
March 27, 2019
Huge amounts of damage would be done if one or more of the thousand or so production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed without warning by a deep-sea mudslide.
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What Can We Learn From the Longest Oil Spill in US History?
March 27, 2019
This is a post about the ongoing Taylor Energy oil spill from Dr. Ian MacDonald, oceanographer at Florida State University and ECOGIG researcher.
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GoMRI-Sponsored Special Issue of Current: The Journal of Marine Education
March 25, 2019
Outreach coordinators partnered to produce a special issue of the journal!
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Acetate as a Microbial Carbon and Energy Source in the Gulf of Mexico
March 07, 2019
ECOGIG researchers looked acetate cycling to determine how important it is as an energy source to the microbial communities in the Gulf.
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Study Reveals Corals’ Cellular Response to Oil and Dispersant Exposure
March 06, 2019
ECOGIG researchers used next-generation sequencing to analyze deep-sea corals following the Deepwater Horizon incident.
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Microbial Mysteries: Underway!
February 28, 2019
The 2019 expedition (#microbialmysteries) to the Gulf of California is currently underway!
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A Dynamic Duo
February 12, 2019
A partnership between a post-doc and a graduate student extends beyond the traditional into the extraordinary.
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Microbial Mysteries in the Gulf of California
February 08, 2019
Scientists depart soon to study the biology, geology, chemistry, and microbiology from south to north along the Gulf.
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The Long-Term Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Accident on Methane Dynamics in the Gulf
January 29, 2019
One month after Deepwater Horizon accident, researchers measured the highest methane oxidation rates ever for an oceanic water column to date.
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Study Simulates How Large and Small Circulations Influence Sinking Marine Particles
January 17, 2019
Scientists used ocean model simulations and sediment trap data to investigate how circulations affect the transport of marine snow in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
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Meet the #DeepSeaDuo! ECOGIG releases new video series about the importance of the deep ocean
November 15, 2018
The ECOGIG-produced video series "The Adventures of Zack and Molly" is now available to the public.
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New science outreach paper provides guidance for outreach planning
October 09, 2018
ECOGIG co-authors paper reflecting on lessons learned during GoMRI program and providing recommendations for creating, managing, and implementing scientific outreach plans.
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New study underscores need for long-term monitoring of deep-sea coral communities
September 19, 2018
The paper is a culmination of seven years of research since the DWH spill to characterize the impact of oil and chemical dispersants on deep-sea coral communities in the Gulf of Mexico.
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New study underscores need for long-term monitoring of deep-sea coral communities
September 19, 2018
The paper is a culmination of seven years of research since the DWH spill to characterize the impact of oil and chemical dispersants on deep-sea coral communities in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Deep Search Scientists & Crew Depart for Offshore Mid-Atlantic
August 17, 2018
DEEP SEARCH scientists and crew ship out for a two-week expedition to the U.S. mid- and south Atlantic coast beginning Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, for the next phase of the DEEP SEARCH project.
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Study tracks sediment resuspension events in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
June 21, 2018
Researchers identified small- to hurricane-scale resuspension events using time-series data of sinking organic material near the Deepwater Horizon site.
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Projecting the recovery of deep sea corals after the Deepwater Horizon spill
June 14, 2018
ECOGIG researchers used a modeling approach to project the recovery of deep sea corals from the 2010 DWH accident.
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3rd annual Ocean Discovery Camp
June 14, 2018
Another successful year of camp is in the books!
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The influence of currents on sinking particles in the northern Gulf of Mexico
May 30, 2018
ECOGIG researchers recently published an article in the journal Elementa that looks at the strong currents that exist in the Gulf of Mexico and the roll they might play in particle transport.
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Study gives post-oil spill baseline for particle fluxes in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
May 22, 2018
Researchers assessed several years of sediment trap collections near the Deepwater Horizon site, an active natural seep site, and a reference site to understand transport pathways and drivers of sinking particles in deepwater environments (1400 m depth).
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ECOGIG Brings the Ocean to Athens, GA!
May 07, 2018
ECOGIG outreach staff visited several schools during the 2017-2018 school year!
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'Jewels of the Gulf' Documentary Now Available!
May 04, 2018
Our film about deep sea coral research in the Gulf of Mexico is now available to watch!
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Grad Student Used Genetics to Explore Oil, Dispersant Effects on Deep Sea Corals
May 01, 2018
ECOGIG graduate student Danielle DeLeo investigated oil and dispersant’s overall toxicity on deep-sea corals and assessed genetic changes.
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ECOGIG attends EarthX 2018
April 25, 2018
EARTHx is a 3-day event held in Dallas, TX every April to celebrate progress, hope, and innovation.
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ECOGIG Documentary Showing at 41st Annual International Wildlife Film Festival
April 20, 2018
"Jewels of the Gulf" will be shown on Friday April 20th in Missoula, MT at the Roxy Theater!
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ECOGIG Student Explores How Ocean Chemistry Effects Microbes
April 04, 2018
Andy Montgomery is a Ph.D. student with the University of Georgia’s Department of Marine Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar.
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7th Annual KITES Festival
March 30, 2018
We brought the ocean to Atlanta!
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2018 Atlanta Science Festival
March 24, 2018
ECOGIG participated in the expo portion of the festival for the 3rd year in a row.
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Clarke County Students Experience UGA
March 09, 2018
ECOGIG outreach staff helped support the 2018 Experience UGA 9th grade field trip, by adding an ocean conservation theme.
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ECOGIG Director Explores Brine Pools for BBC's Blue Planet 2
March 03, 2018
Samantha Joye, ECOGIG Director and UGA Professor, is one of the very few humans who have seen the mysterious brine pools of the ocean floor.
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Students Discover the Ocean in Grayson, GA
January 25, 2018
Outreach staff and ECOGIG students attended family STEM night at Trip Elementary for the 2nd year in a row.
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Congratulations to ECOGIG's Project Director!
January 22, 2018
Dr. Mandy Joye was recently announced as a 2018 Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
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Stress response of Gulf of Mexico black coral to oil and dispersant.
January 09, 2018
ECOGIG researchers investigated the impacts of sub-lethal amounts of oil and dispersant on the black coral species Leiopathes glaberrima.
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Researchers use models to determine coral habitat
December 12, 2017
ECOGIG researchers recently published a study that helps define suitable habitat for corals in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Teachers participate in Gulf of Mexico research expedition
November 09, 2017
Teachers from the Griffin, GA area got to assist with ECOGIG research related to the AMP-IT-UP curriculum they are teaching in their classrooms!
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ECOGIG partners with STEMZone
November 04, 2017
STEMZone is a brand new University of Georgia campus wide science outreach event held immediately before a home football game.
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The traveling Ocean Discovery Zone!
October 31, 2017
This fall, a number of ECOGIG researchers hosted the Ocean Discovery Zone at festivals at their institutions!
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Study characterizes oil and gas bubbles released from natural hydrocarbon seeps
October 19, 2017
ECOGIG scientists video recorded bubbles released from natural seafloor seeps in the Gulf of Mexico to determine the rate and volume of oil and gas released.
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ECOGIG's 'Jewels of the Gulf' educational video series now available
October 17, 2017
We're excited to announce the release of three new educational videos highlighting ECOGIG's research on deep sea corals in the Gulf of Mexico.
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ECOGIG brought award-winning film Chasing Coral to Athens
October 04, 2017
ECOGIG was proud to partner with several institutions across Athens and UGA to bring the filmmakers of Chasing Coral to Athens for a free public screening and school field trip series in October.
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2017 Athens Clarke County Water Festival
September 09, 2017
ECOGIG took part in this family friendly event - Local organizations came together to educate the public about all things water!
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Congratulations to ECOGIG's Project Director!
August 10, 2017
Mandy Joye was recently announced as a 2017 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
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Study characterizes effects of Corexit components on oil
August 07, 2017
Researchers examined how two Corexit components individually affect oil aerosolization.
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Study analyzes metabolic pathways of oil-degrading bacteria
August 04, 2017
Researchers analyzed bacterial communities exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil and identified those associated with oil degradation.
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Study develops method to quantify DOSS in Gulf of Mexico sediments
July 19, 2017
ECOGIG researchers develop a way to detect a component of the dispersant Corexit.
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That's a wrap!
July 14, 2017
We wrapped up our second year of the Ocean Discovery Camp - we had so much fun!
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Study describes response from distinct bacterial groups to marine oil snow
July 05, 2017
ECOGIG researchers find a unique succession of microbes in Gulf sediments.
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Jewels of the Gulf: Meet the scientists!
June 12, 2017
Our coral expedition begins Monday June 12th - meet some of the researchers involved!
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ECOGIG deep sea coral team departs for 'Jewels of the Gulf' expedition
June 05, 2017
ECOGIG researchers embark on a cruise to continue to improve our understanding of the role that natural and human-caused hydrocarbon inputs play in the Gulf's deepwater ecosystems.
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ECOGIG scientists head to Gulfport to kick off the 2017 summer field season
June 02, 2017
ECOGIG researchers continue their monitoring of the Gulf aboard the R/V Endeavor.
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Students dive deep!
May 02, 2017
Students at Chase Street Elementary learned about deep sea exploration
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The ocean visits Philadelphia!
April 29, 2017
ECOGIG researchers set up the Ocean Discovery Zone at the annual science carnival.
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Researchers study microbial processes directly at the seafloor
April 26, 2017
A new seafloor experimental system is revolutionizing the way our researchers learn about microbial oil degradation in the deep sea.
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Earth Day Texas 2017
April 22, 2017
ECOGIG Project Director Samantha Joye was in attendance at this incredible event.
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Panel discusses impact of human activity on marine ecosystems
April 20, 2017
ECOGIG participated in this discussion at the Harvard Natural History Museum
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Cruise season is underway!
April 20, 2017
ECOGIG researchers successfully complete their second mooring & lander cruise of 2017.
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Sharing the wonders of the ocean!
April 12, 2017
Outreach staff visited with K-2nd graders for the second year in a row.
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Study characterizes natural deep sea seeps
April 05, 2017
ECOGIG scientists used two deep-sea autonomous underwater vehicles to survey the Gulf.
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ECOGIG PI receives prestigious professorship
April 05, 2017
Congratulations to Dr. Jeff Chanton!
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6th Annual KITES Festival
March 31, 2017
ECOGIG outreach brought the Ocean Discovery Zone to Scott Elementary in Atlanta!
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2017 Southeastern Biogeochemistry Symposium
March 31, 2017
ECOGIG is a sponsor of the 4th annual event happening at UGA March 31-April 2!
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Assessing post-spill coral recovery
March 28, 2017
ECOGIG graduate student Fanny Girard uses high-definition imagery to assess post-spill coral recovery
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2017 Atlanta Science Festival
March 25, 2017
We took the Ocean Discovery Zone to Atlanta for the 2nd year in a row!
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2017 Ripple Effect Blue Carpet Premiere!
March 25, 2017
New ocean connection films were shown on March 25th at the historic Morton Theatre in Athens, GA
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Middle school students explore the Gulf!
March 21, 2017
7th graders at Rehoboth Road Middle School in Griffin, GA got a chance to explore the Gulf of Mexico through the Ocean Discovery Zone.
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Nature's Way Montessori school visit
March 20, 2017
Middle school students made their own ROVs with Dr. Vernon Asper!
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Ocean Discovery Camp 2017
February 15, 2017
Sign ups are now open for the 2017 Ocean Discovery Camp!
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Study suggests brittle stars limited Deepwater Horizon impacts on deep sea corals
February 07, 2017
Penn State researchers observed that corals associated with brittle stars were healthier than corals that were not.
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Family STEM night at Trip Elementary
January 26, 2017
ECOGIG brought the Ocean Discovery Zone to Grayson, GA!
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Study summarizes knowledge on marine oil snow
January 19, 2017
Scientists conducting oil spill research participated in the 2013 Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA) workshop.
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Distinct microbial community succession found in sediments
December 16, 2016
The authors of this recent ECOGIG paper show how sediment microbes responded to the large amounts of hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon accident.
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Deepwater Horizon hydrocarbons entered the Gulf of Mexico food web
December 14, 2016
A recent ECOGIG paper provides direct evidence through stable isotope analysis that oil and gas from the spill entered the marine food web.
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Elementa special issue open for submissions
November 29, 2016
ECOGIG Project Director Dr. Samantha Joye is organizing a special feature issue of the journal Elementa. Submissions are currently being accepted online.
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ECOGIG research featured!
November 21, 2016
Four ECOGIG researchers recently had their article chosen to be featured in Environmental Research Letters' 10th anniversary highlights brochure.
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New publication details advances in oil detection methods
November 15, 2016
The authors of a recent ECOGIG publication detail the challenges and advancements of oil detection methods since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf.
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GoMRI scientists mobilize to document impacts of methane blowout
November 10, 2016
GoMRI research consortia reacted quickly to study impacts of Hercules 265 methane leak and discovered evidence of immediate response by microbial community.
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New ECOGIG publication summarizes spill impacts on Gulf's deepwater ecosystems
October 25, 2016
A recent ECOGIG publication documents the ecological impacts (to date) of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident on the deep ocean ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico.
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The Ocean Discovery Zone visits Cowan Road Middle School
October 20, 2016
ECOGIG brought the Ocean Discovery Zone to students in Griffin, GA.
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Science at the stadium visited Florida State University's 2016 Homecoming game
October 15, 2016
ECOGIG outreach staff took "Science at the Stadium" on the road to Florida State University on October 15th, prior to FSU's 2016 Homecoming game vs Wake Forest.
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Oxford Science Cafe featured ECOGIG's Dr. Arne Diercks
October 13, 2016
The slow, steady and fascinating sedimentation processes of the deep sea was the topic for October 13th's public science forum organized by the University of Mississippi Department of Physics and Astronomy, featuring ECOGIG researcher Dr. Arne Diercks.
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Discover the ocean at Lamont Doherty's annual open house!
October 08, 2016
ECOGIG outreach staff brought the Ocean Discovery Zone to Lamont Doherty's Open House on October 8th in New York! To see photos from the event, visit our Facebook album.
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What happened to all of the oil?
October 06, 2016
A recently published paper by ECOGIG researchers attempts to answer the question "What happened to all of the oil?" after the Deepwater Horizon accident of 2010.
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Featured student: Tito Peña Montenegro
October 06, 2016
ECOGIG doctoral student and Fulbright scholar Tito Peña Montenegro was recently featured by the University of Georgia's graduate school for his research on developing ways to analyze metagenomic and metatranscriptomic datasets.
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Massive amount of Deepwater Horizon oil transported to the seafloor as marine oil snow
October 04, 2016
A recent ECOGIG research paper published in the GoMRI special issue of Oceanography details the formation of significant quantities of marine oil snow (MOS) after the Deepwater Horizon accident and the implications of their findings for the sensitive Gulf of Mexico ecosystems and future oil spill cleanup efforts.
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First UGA Science at the Stadium event of 2016!
October 01, 2016
ECOGIG outreach staff hosted UGA's first 2016 "Science at the Stadium" event on Saturday October 1st, before the UGA vs Tennessee game in Athens, GA.
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Deep Corals & Oil Cruise Underway
September 17, 2016
ECOGIG and USGS scientists are in the Gulf for the next three weeks collecting information about the state of health of deepsea corals and their microbial associates.
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Fall mooring and lander cruise starts today!
September 11, 2016
ECOGIG researchers left on September 11th for a short, week-long cruise in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Point Sur.
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2016 Science at the stadium season kicks off at Penn State's Fan Fest
September 03, 2016
ECOGIG outreach staff took "Science at the Stadium" on the road to Penn State's Fan Fest on September 3rd, prior to Penn State's first home game of the 2016 football season.
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Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Oceanography special issue now available!
September 01, 2016
This special issue provides a broad overview of the scientific work that has been done under the GoMRI program by GoMRI funded consortia. The issue contains 19 articles, 5 about ECOGIG related scientific discoveries and 1 about the outreach efforts surrounding the Deepwater Horizon accident.
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Anaerobic bacteria found to be thriving in Gulf of Mexico surface oil slicks
July 29, 2016
The Deepwater Horizon accident and subsequent oil spill led to rapid microbial community shifts in the Gulf of Mexico, including the formation of unprecedented quantities of marine oil snow. A recent ECOGIG study indicates that sea surface oil slicks at the site of the accident contained anaerobic (oxygen-sensitive) microbes, including species that are more commonly found in marine sediments.
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ECOGIG sets sail on the R/V Endeavor to study the Gulf
July 23, 2016
This cruise takes the ECOGIG team back to the Gulf of Mexico to continue their research assessing the ecological impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident. ECOGIG will also be recovering two gliders deployed in the Gulf on July 14th.
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STEMSEAS joins ECOGIG onboard the R/V Endeavor
July 15, 2016
10 undergraduate students and 2 faculty, all participating in the STEMSEAS program, joined ECOGIG's Dr. Joseph Montoya and several graduate students onboard the R/V Endeavor as it transits from Morehead City, NC to Gulfport, MS. The STEMSEAS students will learn more about ECOGIG's research as well as general oceanographic research on the trip! Welcome aboard everyone!
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The Gulf of Mexico ecosystem – before, during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout
July 01, 2016
ECOGIG recently released a special issue of the journal Deep Sea Research II- this issue includes thirty seven papers that describe various aspects of the Gulf of Mexico's ecology and physics before, during and after the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010.
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Benthic animals significantly impact the nitrogen isotope balance of the world's oceans
July 01, 2016
A model developed by ECOGIG researchers at the University of Georgia has found that the activities of benthic organisms (animals that live in marine sediment), such as pumping water in and out of their burrows, has a significant impact on the isotopic signature of the nitrogen gas taken up or produced by marine sediments.
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ECOGIG wraps up the summer 2016 Ocean Discovery Camp season
June 24, 2016
The inaugural 2016 Ocean Discovery Camp was a huge success- we had so much fun!! All of the photos from camp are available on our Facebook page- week 1 & week 2.
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An ocean oil spill science legacy
June 08, 2016
Today on World Oceans Day, we are reflecting on the progress Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) funded consortia have made in advancing oil spill research, and subsequently our ability to deal with the ever present threat of oil spills. Due to the groundbreaking research GoMRI has sponsored, we will be better prepared to understand and respond to any future petroleum releases into marine systems.
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Restoration reaches deepest depths of sea
May 31, 2016
Far offshore and a mile deep in the dark world below the Gulf of Mexico’s gleaming surface, the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon accident of 2010 did untold damage on the ocean floor. But scientists are unsure they can do much to heal places in the deep that were hurt the most as they undertake what’s being called the largest ecosystem restoration effort ever.
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Coldwater black coral community connectivity in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
May 24, 2016
A recently published ECOGIG paper investigated the potential connectivity of deepwater black coral communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the impact of this connectivity (or lack thereof) on helping deepwater coral communities recover after a large stress event.
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'Dirty Blizzard' sent 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill pollution to seafloor
May 23, 2016
ECOGIG researchers have recently published their findings that contaminants from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill lingered in the subsurface water for months after oil on the surface had been swept up or dispersed.
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Science, Pixar and ECOGIG!
May 23, 2016
The Franklin Institute in Philidelphia, PA recently hosted a Pixar themed "Science After Hours" event, in celebration of the upcoming movie "Finding Dory." Dr. Erik Cordes, one of ECOGIG's deepwater coral experts, participated in the hands on event for the 21 and over crowd.
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ECOGIG research describes the transport of pollutants in the deep layer of the Gulf of Mexico
May 19, 2016
The most recent paper from ECOGIG researchers out of Georgia Tech provides new insights on the processes that drive transport and mixing of pollutants (such as oil) in the deep water layer (below 1000m) of the Gulf of Mexico.
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ECOGIG mounts rapid response after Shell Oil spill
May 16, 2016
ECOGIG scientists organized a rapid response research cruise immediately after learning of the incident, which occurred in the GC248 lease block in the Gulf of Mexico.
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White House hosts event on the future of microbiomes
May 13, 2016
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s May 13 event on microbiomes—communities of microorganisms that live on and in people, plants, soil, oceans and the atmosphere—featured presentations from scientists including ECOGIG Project Director Dr. Samantha Joye.
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State of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem six years after the Deepwater Horizon accident
May 12, 2016
The Gulf of Mexico ecosystem is a hotspot for biological diversity and supports a number of industries, from tourism to fishery production to oil and gas exploration, that serve as the economic backbone of Gulf coast states. The latest research from ECOGIG aims to give an overview of the distribution, fate and impacts of the Deepwater Horizon accident on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
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ECOGIG brings the deep sea to Oconee Primary School
May 12, 2016
ECOGIG outreach staff visited Oconee Primary School in Watkinsville, GA recently to chat with K-2nd graders about the wonders of the deep sea!
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Deepwater coral symbionts limited the impact of the Deepwater Horizon accident on their hosts.
May 10, 2016
Deepwater corals form complex biological habitats in the deep-sea and are generally associated with a diverse number of organisms. However, little is known about the effect of these symbionts on the corals resilience to natural or anthropogenic impacts, such as an oil spill like the Deepwater Horizon accident. ECOGIG researchers investigated the benefits octocoral symbionts (brittle stars) provided to their coral hosts in the aftermath of the accident.
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Genetic potential of oil-eating bacteria from the Deepwater Horizon accident decoded
May 09, 2016
Microbiologists have cracked the genetic code of how bacteria broke down oil to help clean up the Deepwater Horizon accident, revealing that some bacteria have far greater potential for consuming oil than was previously known.
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ECOGIG researchers characterize seasonal evolution of circulation patterns in the surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico
May 01, 2016
Recently published work by ECOGIG researchers characterizes, for the first time, the seasonal development of the submesoscale (scales of 0.1-10 km) circulation dynamics near the ocean surface in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and provides new insights on the transport and convergence in the late spring and early summer of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010.
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Highly variable nutrient concentrations measured in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
April 26, 2016
In a recent paper published in Deep Sea Research II, ECOGIG researchers from Georgia Tech and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory found that nutrient concentrations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico are highly variable and cannot be described with a linear model based on the Mississippi River's discharge alone.
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Opportunity: Post-Doctoral Research Scientist
March 30, 2016
The Cordes lab at Temple University has a post-doctoral research scientist position available for a bioinformatics specialist who has experience working with non-model organisms. The position will be funded by NSF for the first year and ECOGIG for the second year.
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ECOGIG inspires future scientists at the 2016 Atlanta Science Festival
March 26, 2016
The Atlanta Science Festival is an annual, week long public celebration of local science and technology. ECOGIG brought the Ocean Discovery Zone to the Exploration Expo portion of the festival, which promotes science exploration, discovery and innovation with more than 100 interactive exhibits, hands-on experiments, demos and performances!
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Featured student: Florida State PhD student Kelsey Rogers traces Gulf oil as a scientific CSI
March 17, 2016
Kelsey Rogers looks for evidence of oil and methane intrusion into Gulf of Mexico water and sediment, but finding these hydrocarbons is only the beginning of her work. Like a scientific crime scene investigator, Kelsey analyzes the chemical fingerprints of oil and gas and uses them to identify their source, such as from an oil spill or a natural seafloor seep.
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R/V Pelican sets sail for ECOGIG's first research cruise of 2016
March 03, 2016
ECOGIG researchers are heading out to the Gulf of Mexico on the R/V Pelican on Thursday, March 3rd, where they will be recovering and deploying several different pieces of equipment to the seafloor.
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New research describes microbial activities in Mississippi River Delta in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac
March 03, 2016
New research from ECOGIG scientists suggests that increased river discharge from the Mississippi River, in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, triggered blooms of phytoplankton in the Mississippi River Delta.
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ECOGIG works with Boy Scouts at Badge Advance-A-Rama
February 27, 2016
ECOGIG graduate students, outreach personnel and faculty in the University of Georgia Marine Science department helped teach boy scouts attending the 2016 badge Advance-A-rama about oceanography in order to fulfill some of the requirements of their oceanography badge.
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Deepwater Horizon oil transported to sediment through the formation of oil-associated marine snow
February 17, 2016
New research from ECOGIG researchers Dr. Uta Passow and Dr. Jeff Chanton suggests that a significant fraction of oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident was transported to the sediment through marine oil snow formation in Gulf of Mexico surface waters.
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ECOGIG announces new Ocean Discovery Camp for summer 2016
February 11, 2016
Experience a unique hands-on approach to marine science and ocean conservation at the Ocean Discovery Camp in Athens, GA!!
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ECOGIG study describes how Hurricane Isaac stirred up a marine snow storm
January 28, 2016
ECOGIG scientists representing eight institutions conducted in-situ observations and laboratory experiments to determine if Hurricane Isaac redistributed sedimented oil near the Deepwater Horizon site.
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Gulf of Mexico study finds microbes thriving above natural oil seeps
January 25, 2016
Recent findings from ECOGIG researchers Dr. Nigel D'Souza, Dr. Ajit Subramaniam, Dr. Andy Juhl, Dr. Ian MacDonald and Dr. Joe Montoya provide new insight into how microbes and oil interact in the Gulf.
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Opportunity: ECOGIG Post-Doctoral and PhD Positions Available
January 15, 2016
The Joye Research Group at the University of Georgia invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher and two Ph.D. level graduate students in the area of hydrocarbon microbiology, biogeochemistry, and -omics.
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Dr. Jeff Chanton weighs in on the impacts of the California methane gas leak
January 15, 2016
ECOGIG's Dr. Jeff Chanton (FSU) recently spoke to Minnesota Public Radio's Paul Huttner, meteorologist and host of podcast Climate Cast, about the ongoing methane gas leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak in California, as well as what makes methane so much more destructive than carbon dioxide.
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New ECOGIG research maps naturally occurring oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico
January 05, 2016
New research from Dr. Ian MacDonald (Florida State University), published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, quantifies the magnitude and distribution of surface oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico from natural seeps and from the Deepwater Horizon discharge, creating a map of all the active natural oil seeps in the Gulf.
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Study identifies molecular fingerprints for tracking oil and dispersant fate
December 23, 2015
An international science team, including several ECOGIG researchers, examined the effects of dispersant on the activity and composition of oil-degrading marine microorganisms.
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Opportunity: Post-Doctoral Research Scientist
December 01, 2015
The Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is seeking a qualified and highly motivated individual for a postdoctoral research scientist position to lead independent research in the laboratory of Dr. Beth Orcutt related to microbial hydrocarbon (methane and oil) cycling in deep-sea and Arctic environments.
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ECOGIG Director Dr. Samantha Joye attends AERC annual congressional briefing in Washington, DC.
November 24, 2015
Dr. Samantha Joye recently attended the 2015 AERC (Association of Ecosystem Research Centers) annual meeting in Washington, DC to brief congress on the resilience of the Gulf of Mexico to extreme events, like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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ECOGIG researchers named ASLO sustaining fellows!
November 17, 2015
ECOGIG researchers Dr. Samantha Joye (University of Georgia) and Dr. Uta Passow (University of Santa Barbara) were recently named ASLO (American Society of Limnology and Oceanography) sustaining fellows.
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Science at the Stadium goes on the road to Florida State University!
November 17, 2015
Science at the Stadium went on the road to Florida State University, where ECOGIG researchers Dr. Jeff Chanton and Dr. Ian MacDonald are currently located. The event coincided with Florida State's homecoming game against North Carolina State.
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New ECOGIG research shows oil dispersants can suppress natural oil-degrading microorganisms
November 09, 2015
New results from ECOGIG’s Dr. Samantha Joye recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that the use of chemical dispersants meant to stimulate microbial crude oil degradation can, in some cases, inhibit the microorganisms that naturally degrade hydrocarbons.
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ECOGIG Launches Fall 2015 Science at the Stadium Series
September 11, 2015
ECOGIG is launching the fall 2015 Science at the Stadium program to educate and inspire the public about our work in the Gulf and the importance of healthy ocean ecosystems. The series will open on Saturday, September 19th in Athens, Georgia before the University of Georgia home football hame against the University of South Carolina. This year’s Science at the Stadium series will feature the Ocean Discovery Zone!
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New article in Science calls for more natural baseline data collection in world's oceans
August 07, 2015
ECOGIG's Dr. Samantha Joye (UGA) recently published a perspective piece in the journal Science, calling for more natural baseline data in the world's oceans, to improve future oil spill response efforts.
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Latest ECOGIG research finds diverse, rare microbial communities responded to the Deepwater Horizon
August 03, 2015
Dr. Sara Kleindienst, a former post-doc with ECOGIG-1, just published new research in the ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology. The ISME Journal bridges the gap between microbial ecology and other science areas, and is published by the Nature group.
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ECOGIG's Dr. Jeff Chanton receives prestigious AGU fellowship
July 29, 2015
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) recently announced its 2015 class of Fellows, which includes ECOGIG's Dr. Jeff Chanton (Florida State University).
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MODENA explores the Gulf of Mexico!
July 14, 2015
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography's autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), nicknamed MODENA, was deployed on June 24th, 2015 to explore oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. MODENA is one of five gliders participating in an AUV Jubilee in the Gulf this July, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) and ConCORDE scientists at University of Southern Mississippi and Naval Research Laboratory.
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Water, water everywhere!
June 23, 2015
Girl Scouts and Brownies from the Oconee County Girl Scout Service Chapter, located in Watkinsville, GA, dove into the Gulf of Mexico with ECOGIG and Dr. Mandy Joye (University of Georgia) during their "Water, Water Everywhere" day camp on June 23rd, 2015.
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ECOGIG researchers observe and detect oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico using SailDrone
June 11, 2015
On June 10th, 2015, ECOGIG researchers conducted a coordinated series of observations at the GC600 study site and nearby sites with additional natural oil seepage. They deployed an autonomous marine data logger called SailDrone to measure and report real time data about the size and location of surface oil slicks.
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ECOGIG Scientists Celebrated 2015 World Oceans Day with Two Events
June 08, 2015
ECOGIG scientists participated in World Oceans Day on Monday, June 8, 2015 by hosting and participating in two events. World Oceans Day is the United Nations-recognized day of ocean celebration and action. People all over our blue planet organize events to support action to protect the ocean. This year, the theme was "healthy oceans, healthy planet."
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Featured Student: Florida State PhD student Caroline Johansen Counts Bubbles to Understand Natural Oil Seeps
May 12, 2015
Caroline Johansen laughs when her family tells others that her research involves counting bubbles. But the bubbles she studies come from seeps at the bottom of the Gulf and contain naturally-occurring hydrocarbons that are an important part of the deep-sea ecosystem. Calling her research “original and transformative,” ECOGIG project director Dr. Samantha Joye said that Caroline is an ideal representative for the GoMRI Scholars Program. “Caro is a bright, talented, and hard-working young scientist,” said Joye. “She is exceptionally willing to support the efforts of others, whether through intellectual input or staying up half the night to help someone get their samples processed.” She added, “I could not be more proud to include her as part of the ECOGIG team.”
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E/V Nautilus explores the Gulf of Mexico with ECOGIG
May 04, 2015
A research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the E/V Nautilus took place April 23-May 4, 2015, led by ECOGIG researchers Dr. Erik Cordes of Temple University and Dr. Charles Fisher of Penn State University. This cruise focused on deepwater corals, their associated communities, and their response to the oil spill. A great 60-second video overview of this ECOGIG expedition can be found on the Nautilus YouTube channel here.
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National Ocean Science Bowl winners get a taste of life on a research ship
April 30, 2015
This year's National Ocean Science Bowl finalists (nosb.org) got a treat at the end of the April 2015 competition held in Ocean Springs, MS. ECOGIG co-principal investigator Dr. Vernon Asper of the University of Southern Mississippi hosted the finalists for an afternoon aboard the research vessel Point Sur, which was just returning from its six-day research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico.
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ECOGIG Perspectives Part 3: The ECOGIG Student & Post-Doc Experience, In Their Own Words
April 27, 2015
"While we all may be answering different questions, our scientific goal to understand the northern Gulf of Mexico in an unprecedented way is the same. I honestly can say I have never before experienced such a collaborative effort from the young scientific community and am proud to be a part of this hopefully enduring trend." Caleb King, a graduate student working with Dr. Chris Martens at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, is just one of dozens of students and post-doctoral researchers who have been involved in ECOGIG research over the past several years. Their stories serve as inspiration for all involved in ECOGIG.
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ECOGIG Perspectives Part 2B: What ECOGIG Scientists Have Learned in the Past 5 Years, In Their Own Words
April 26, 2015
"The Gulf is in serious trouble. As a marine ecosystem, there were many stressors prior to the Deepwater Horizon discharge and there has been little relief in the post-discharge era. For example, the nutrient loading from Mississippi River has continued. Apalachicola Bay, previously a major producer of oysters, has been devastated by diversion of freshwater upstream. Populations of fish, turtles, and marine mammals were seriously depleted. The discharged oil added a sudden, acute stress to an already unstable system. More research is needed to assess recovery, but much of the proposed work is too narrowly focused and basic research assets--ships, instruments, ROVs have limited availability and high costs." In the words of Ian MacDonald, ECOGIG co-principal investigator, there is still a lot more work needed to understand the Gulf's recovery. Today we continue our 3 part series in honor of the 5th anniversary of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Part 2 has been split into 2 sections - A and B. We asked the ECOGIG investigators for their perspectives on their work since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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ECOGIG Perspectives Part 2A: What ECOGIG Scientists Have Learned in the Past 5 Years, In Their Own Words
April 25, 2015
"In today’s world, it is not enough to be a scientist doing good science. Scientists must also be (or become) effective communicators of the science they do. The public needs to understand what we do, why we are doing it, and what we are learning. There is inherent value in the work we do and it is relevant to the public at large, not just to scientists. An educated and engaged public is the only way to change the status quo. My involvement in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon event has led me to become an outspoken advocate for the oceans and for environmental literacy." In the words of ECOGIG program director Dr. Mandy Joye, the Deepwater Horizon incident was professionally and personally life changing. Today we continue our 3 part series in honor of the 5th anniversary of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In anticipation of this important anniversary, we asked the ECOGIG investigators for their perspectives on their work since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Part 2 has been split into 2 sections, each highlighting a group of ECOGIG scientists.
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ECOGIG Perspectives Part 1: Five Years After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Well Blowout
April 24, 2015
Five years ago today, on April 20th 2010, a chain of events that ultimately resulted in the most significant offshore oil release in U.S. history began. The Deepwater Horizon, a dynamically positioned offshore mobile drilling unit, was drilling a production well in the Macondo Prospect, located in Mississippi Canyon lease block 252, about 40 miles offshore if the southeast coast of Louisiana. The night of April 20th 2010, rig operators experienced a loss of well control, resulting in a well blowout. The explosion and subsequent fire on the platform killed eleven men and injured sixteen others. The blowout preventer, which should have cut the riser pipe at the seafloor and sealed the blown out well, failed and the fire on the platform raged for two days. On April 22nd, the Deepwater Horizon sank, initiating an uncontrolled release of oil and gas from the seafloor that lasted for 87 days and introduced over some 5 million barrels of oil (210 million gallons) and 500,000 metric tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
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ECOGIG brings the Gulf of Mexico to North Carolina students
April 19, 2015
ECOGIG co-principal investigator Dr. Andreas Teske with UNC-Chapel Hill recently gave a talk on the Gulf of Mexico at the North Carolina Marbles Kids Museum- a science fair and cinema center in Raleigh that provides a venue for science-related events, talks and activities for school kids.
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ECOGIG Graduate Student Wins Competitive Scholarship
April 16, 2015
Samira Daneshgar Asl, a graduate student working with Dr. Ian MacDonald, was named the O'Brien Fellow for 2015 at Florida State University.
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Featured student: Sarah Harrison
March 18, 2015
Sarah Harrison is a graduate student in the Joye lab at the University of Georgia
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Dr. Jeff Chanton leads team of ECOGIG & DEEP- C colleagues in locating 6-10 Million Gallons of Deepwater Horizon oil buried in the sediment on GOM floor
February 02, 2015
A nine-member research team, led by ECOGIG's Dr. Jeff Chanton, published a paper in the latest edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology locating - for the first time - 6 to 10 million gallons of DWH oil that are buried in the sediment on the Gulf of Mexico sea floor.
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Featured student: Tingting Yang
January 25, 2015
Tingting Yang is a graduate student in microbial ecology. She works in Dr. Andreas Teske's lab in the marine sciences department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Featured student: Dannenberg unlocking mysteries
January 13, 2015
Deep below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico live vast canyons of coral. Recent news reports suggest that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have impacted the health of these corals. To find out, PhD student Richard Dannenberg is delving into their world, looking at the bacteria that live with the coral for clues about that potential damage.
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Dr. Charles Fisher and team show extended footprint of oil spill impact on corals
December 11, 2014
ECOGIG scientists widened their study scope of deep sea coral communities after finding oil-impacted coral near the Deepwater Horizon site.
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Dr. Samantha Joye is named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
November 26, 2014
ECOGIG's Samantha Joye has been named a new AAAS Fellow. This premier honor is bestowed by peers for "scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.". Dr. Joye will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin on Feb. 14 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2015 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Jose, California.
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UGA receives $18.8 million to continue Gulf of Mexico oil spill research
November 18, 2014
ECOGIG-2 has been awarded a three-year, $18.8 million dollar grant to continue the work of ECOGIG, by the Gulf of Mexico Research Institute (GoMRI).
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Dr. Samantha Joye participates in Ocean GEMS
November 07, 2014
ECOGIG's Dr. Samantha Joye was a speaker to hundreds of youth around the US and Canada, via a web-connected session of Mission Blue's "Ocean Gems", a youth science mentorship program session at BLUE Ocean film festival & conservation summit
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Featured student: Ryan Sibert
November 04, 2014
Ryan Sibert is a graduate student in the Joye research lab at the University of Georgia
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Dr. Uta Passow's research on marine snow and the fate of some of the Deepwater Horizon plume published in PNAS
November 03, 2014
Of the estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil that gushed into the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded into fire and then sank in 2010, about 75% was neither recovered nor burned. New studies propose mechanisms for how some of that oil may have wound up on the seafloor. The work suggests the oil is more broadly distributed on the seafloor than previously realized.
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What a Matchup! SEC Football and science at the stadium
October 21, 2014
ECOGIG recently launched the “Science at the Stadium” education program to connect fascinating undersea research technology with the thrilling college football atmosphere.
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Featured student: Samira Daneshgar Asl
September 15, 2014
Samira is currently a graduate research assistant in Dr. Ian MacDonald’s lab in the school of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Florida State University.
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BioScience features ECOGIG research on oil spill impacts
September 03, 2014
The September 2014 issue of BioScience features seven peer-reviewed articles authored by GoMRI-funded scientists and engineers, including 2 papers by ECOGIG researchers, discussing key phenomena occurring at the time of the Macondo blowout.
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Impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on coral communities is deeper and broader than predicted
August 07, 2014
A new discovery of two additional coral communities showing signs of damage from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill expands the impact footprint of the 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Interview: Deep-Sea Researcher Dr. Samantha Joye on Microbes in the Gulf
August 06, 2014
Ocean Conservancy interviewed Dr. Samantha Joye for their "Blog Aquatic" series, profiling scientists who are championing marine research in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Featured researcher: Dr. Yuley Cardona
July 03, 2014
Dr. Yuley Cardona is a post-doctoral research associate in the Bracco research group at the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology.
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Featured researcher: Dr. Sara Kleindienst
May 25, 2014
Dr. Sara Kleindienst is a post-doctoral researcher studying microbiology in Dr. Joye's laboratory at the University of Georgia.
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November science cafe highlights Gulf of Mexico research
November 19, 2013
Oxford (MS) Science Cafe hosted ECOGIG researcher Dr. Arne-R. Diercks on November 19, 2013. His talk was about autonomous underwater vehicles used for oil spill research and included discussion about the University of Mississippi and University of Southern Mississippi collaboration operating two autonomous underwater vehicles, Eagle Ray and Mola Mola, and how they perform seafloor surveys at depths down to 2,000 meters.
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ECOGIG hosts media during a rare tandem Gulf of Mexico research cruise.
July 05, 2013
ECOGIG scientists studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill invited the media aboard their research vessels recently during a stop at the Port of Gulfport. Much of their research has focused on the oil spill's impact on coral reefs in the Gulf.
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Live Feed from the E/V Nautilus: ECOGIG deep sea exploration for oil spill research
June 21, 2013
Watching scientists do research in real time on board a ship operating tens to hundreds of miles off shore is a rare opportunity for the public; but that is exactly what is available right now at www.nautiluslive.org.
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New oil sheen prompts another investigation of Deepwater Horizon disaster scene
November 11, 2012
An overflight inspection of the Deepwater Horizon disaster site 40 miles south of Grand Isle this past weekend found a new, mile-long oil sheen, which has prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to again require BP to inspect the wellhead and debris area on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico with a remotely operated vehicle for the source of the oil.
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ECOGIG collaborated with Schmidt Ocean Institute on a shakedown cruise.
November 06, 2012
ECOGIG collaborated with Schmidt Ocean Institute for a final shakedown cruise on the research vessel Falkor. This cruise was dedicated to a comprehensive study of ecosystems near the site of Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
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ECOGIG conducts another cruise in its post-Deepwater Horizon accident time series
November 01, 2012
Two researchers from the University of Georgia - Post Doc Sara Kleindienst and PhD student Maggie Esch - are part of a twelve person science team led by chief scientist, Ian MacDonald (Florida State University), that is sailing on board the research vessel Falkor to study the repercussions of the Macondo blowout on Gulf of Mexico benthic ecosystems.
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ECOGIG's first research cruise places long-term monitoring equipment on the seafloor
October 01, 2012
ECOGIG researcher Dr. Laura Lapham has just returned from a cruise on the Gulf of Mexico to study the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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Chasing the hidden effects of Deepwater Horizon oil
June 22, 2012
The June, 2012 R/V Endeavor cruise prompted five Chronicle of Higher Education articles written by Josh Fischman, who joined the cruise.
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ECOGIG Cruises: Spring
June 01, 2012
Our new Gulf of Mexico research project—“ECological Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf”—will involve at lot of time at sea over the next few years. The project had its first cruise on board the R/V Endeavor in April 2012 and successfully deployed two instrumented landers for long-term monitoring of seafloor-water column chemical exchange.
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ECOGIG sets sail to understand impacts of oil in deepwater ecosystems
April 18, 2012
Dr. Vernon Asper with the University of Mississippi and 18 scientists sailed from Gulfport, MS on April 12th on the R/V Endeavor for the first of six research cruises.
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