Maryland Sea Grant Welcomes Eva May
by Alexandra Grayson
It’s a long way from the waters of Ban Nam Khem to the campus of College Park. But Eva May has traveled that road — with stops at many places in between. May is Maryland Sea Grant’s new Science Management and Policy intern.
As a student at Duke University, the Atlanta native traveled to Thailand to rehabilitate and research her favorite animal — sea turtles. In addition, she built and analyzed nanoparticle aquatic microcosms, investigated marine worms, and conducted independent research on trophic dynamics. May also studied marine bioacoustics at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort.
When she graduated from Duke in 2017, May received a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, with a minor in biology, as well as a certificate in marine science and conservation leadership. Her time at Duke taught her what a career in marine science could look like. While she enjoyed rehabilitating and researching sea turtles and parrotfish hatchlings, she also learned the ways in which her research could facilitate changes in fisheries management and in ecosystems as a whole.
“I knew if I wanted to do conservation management, I couldn’t only do research,” she said.
May’s course work exposed her to several marine coastal areas, including the Chesapeake Bay. Her knowledge of the region, combined with her broad interest in marine sciences, made her a great fit for Maryland Sea Grant.
Here, no two days are alike. May has enjoyed juggling many special projects, from event planning to Capitol Hill visits to microplastics research at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. She also has continued to pursue her hobbies, yoga and hiking, and she appreciates having access to Washington’s many free museums. “I have my hands in so many pots,” she said.
This won’t be the end of May’s travels: When her internship is over, she plans to apply to graduate schools in several places, including as far as Australia. Hers is a road with many exciting stops to come.
— Alexandra Grayson
Alexandra Grayson, a first-year student at Howard University, is a Maryland Sea Grant intern with the communications department.
