Summary
Research Reserve staff played active roles in organizing and facilitating multiple sessions at the AK Marine Science Symposium and the AK Forum in early 2026.
Above Photos: (Left) Rose Masui presents Keynote presentation at AK Marine Science Symposium and shares testimonial from Mayor of Homer, Rachel Lord. (Right) KBNERR’s NOAA Hollings Scholar, Claire Labudo, shares her scientific poster on Homer Harbor Kittiwakes with interested students.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) – Jan 26 – 30, Anchorage
Kachemak Bay Research Reserve was well represented at AMSS this year with a busy week of hosting multiple sessions, presentations and posters, alongside networking with agency, university and nonprofit partners. Rose Masui, KBNERR’s Coastal Training Specialist who also serves in the role of Engagement Lead for the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network (AHAB), co-presented a Keynote presentation with Thomas Farrugia, AHAB Coordinator at the Alaska Ocean Observing System: “Uncertain Waters – uniting expertise to respond to harmful algal blooms in southcentral Alaska.” It was a full house at the Captain Cook Hotel, and the testimonials woven into their presentation told the story of how communities of Kachemak Bay came together this past summer during unprecedented events. A huge thank you to those who shared their perspectives on summer 2025’s events: Mayor Rachel Lord (City of Homer), Michael Opheim (KBNERR Community Council and Chugach Regional Resources Commission), Kathleen Easley (Alaska Department of Health), Jerry Borchert (Washington Department of Health), and Margo Reveil (Jakolof Oyster Co.); it warmed our hearts to know our science and monitoring makes a difference to local livelihoods. In addition to the Keynote, Rose and Thomas facilitated a HAB Workshop Monday morning that had approximately 90 people participate.
Posters: KBNERR staff and students had four posters at the Monday and Tuesday evening poster sessions including former NOAA Hollings Scholars, Nearshore Fish Fellow, and partners at NOAA’s Kasitsna Bay Lab and AHAB Network:
Alaska Forum, Feb. 2-6, Anchorage
KBNERR’s Manager, Katherine Schake, also serves in the role of Invasive Species Hotspot Coordinator for an effort at Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS), University of Alaska Anchorage in partnership with US Fish & Wildlife Service. In this role, Katherine co-organized and hosted two invasive species sessions at the Alaska Forum (formerly Alaska Forum on the Environment) to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of freshwater invasive zebra and quagga mussels. The sessions included presentations from other partners within the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership and research staff at ACCS and KBNERR including Kim Schuster and Marcus Geist, Kim Holzer, USFWS Invasive Species Alaska Regional Coordinator, Gino Graziano, UAF Cooperativ Extension Service, Barbara Morgan, University of AK Southeast, and Emily Halsell, Kethcikan Indian Community. An afternoon hands-on session to explore digital field data collection tools such as Survey123 and ESRI Field Maps also included water sampling kits to test calcium levels in lakes, invasive European green crab monitoring tools, invasive plants, and pathways of introductions for aquatic invasive species. Combined sessions had 34 participants and six presenters.
AK Forum Sessions:
Alaska Partners Take Action on Aggressive Invasive Species Statewide and You Can Help
Invasive Species: Tools for Reporting/Monitoring
Photos below: KBNERR research staff, students, and partners eagage with participants at the AK Marine Science Symposium and the AK Forum.
