PEOPLE & 



PLACES 



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30th Anniversary 



I orth Carolina Sea Grant celebrated "30 Years of Coastal 

 Science Serving North Carolina" with a symposium June 20 at the N.C. 

 Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. 

 The event included a look at the program's history, as well as current research and outreach efforts. And a keynote speech by N.C. Secretary of 

 Environment and Natural Resources William Ross focused on coastal issues expected to stretch into the future. 



A poster session highlighted additional projects, including some funded by the N.C. Fishery Resource Grant Program and the N.C. Blue Crab 



Research Program, both of which are administered by Sea Grant. 



The coastal theme on the first floor of the N. C. Museum 

 of Natural Sciences set the tone for North Carolina Sea Grant's symposium and poster 

 session. Ronald G. Hodson, center, was honored upon his retirement as Sea Grant 

 director. Joining the celebration were, from left, Tricia Griffin, Kay Hodson, Chelsea Griffin 

 and Kristi Turner. A preview of a new video, "The Beautiful Blue Crab, " drew a crowd. 



Nancy White, director of the University of North Carolina 's Coastal Studies Institute chats 

 with Jim SwatzenbergofJ&B Aqua farms, new chairman of the North Carolina Sea Grant 

 Advisory Board. Hodson reflected on his years with Sea Grant, including 1 6 years as 

 associate director, and nine years as director. 



Former Sea Grant Director B.J. Copeland 

 explained how university and government leaders came together to propose the Sea Grant 

 program structure that remains in place today. Michael Voiland was introduced as the incomingSea 

 Grant executive director, effective July 1 . Ronald Baird, former National Sea Grant director, checks out a 

 fisheries poster. UNC Vice President Russ Lea presented Hodson with the "Order of the Long Leaf Pine, " 

 the state's highest honor. Symposium participant got a glimpse of the interesting displays in the N. C. 

 Museum of Natural Sciences. 



Nancy and Michael Voiland enjoyed meeting Sea Grant partners. 

 From left, Bill Crowell, director of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program, State Rep. Phillip 

 Frye, and Bill Holman, director of the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, have time to discuss 

 environmental issues. Spencer Rogers, Sea Grant coastal construction and erosion specialist, right, 

 chats with Tom Ellis, who retired from the N. C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

 James Murray, acting deputy director of the National Sea Grant College Program, praised the North 



Carolina program. Tom Losordo ofNC State, presented Hodson an award on behalf of 

 the N. C. Aquaculture Development Conference in recognition ofHodson's leadership on 

 hybrid striped bass pond culture and other aquaculture efforts in the state. 



William Ross, N.C. secretary of environment and natural resources, 

 gave the keynote speech at the symposium. The poster session was held in the museum 

 lobby. Jimmy Johnson of the N. C. Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources, 

 right, and Martin Lancaster, president of the N. C. Community College System, enjoy 

 the poster session that included samples of donated seafood. Lauriston KingofEast 

 Carolina University, left, chats with State Rep. Marion McLawhorn during the poster 

 session. State Rep. George Cleveland chats with Jack Thigpen, Sea Grant extension 

 director, and Jean Spooner of NC State. 



Photos by Daniel Kin 



Coastwatch I Autumn 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



