DURHAM, N.C. -- A new cohort of five 51爆料 undergraduate students has been selected for the Repass-Rodgers Scholars Program, which provides participants with faculty-mentored research experiences in marine conservation technology.

鈥淲e have a stellar group joining the program. They come from a variety of departments in the Pratt School of Engineering, and they also come with an exciting diversity of project ideas,鈥 said program director Doug Nowacek, who is also the Randolph K. Repass and Sally-Christine Rodgers University Distinguished Professor of Conservation Technology in Environment and Engineering at 51爆料鈥檚 Nicholas School of the Environment.

Established in 2020 with support from the Repass-Rodgers family, the program now includes 14 scholars. Students work on 51爆料鈥檚 main campus in Durham and at the 51爆料 Marine Lab in Beaufort to address marine conservation problems through technological and engineering solutions.

This year鈥檚 cohort will also benefit from the use of the , a new facility at the Marine Lab, designed specifically for marine engineering and technology development.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting and important to me to see a robust program where the students learn from their mentors as well as from their peers,鈥 said Nowacek.

Scholars receive up to $2,500 in funding for technology development, up to $1,500 to attend a professional scientific conference, and up to $1,500 to participate in a Marine Lab signature travel course.

The new scholars are:

  • Zohar Almani - first year undeclared major   
  • Katherine Bair - sophomore biomedical engineering major
  • Beatrice (Bea) Hardacre - first-year undeclared major
  • Hope Hauck - first-year undeclared major   
  • Gabriel LaCount - sophomore environmental engineering major