Growing up on the beaches of St. Croix, Kyle’s interest turned from sand to sea at an early age. Now, Kyle has made hundreds of scientific dives, has grown into an experienced field researcher, and is about to earn his Masters of Marine and Environmental Studies degree from the University of the Virgin Islands.

“We are really concerned about sea grasses declining  all over the globe, actually disappearing,” says Edwin Cruz-Rivera, associate professor of biology at the University of the Virgin Islands and recipient of a NSF Track 4 grant.

The 2015 Masters of Marine & Environmental Studies cohort at the University of the Virgin Islands has received notice that their video “Spread the word, not Halophila” is one of only ten submissions to make it to the final round of the Ocean 180 Video Challenge.

It is with great pride that we announce the University of the Virgin Islands’ Masters of Marine and Environmental Studies 2015 cohort has had their capstone manuscript published in PLOS ONE, a prestigious research journal greatly respected in the scientific community.