Stanton and students trek to Dauphin Island Sea Lab for marine biology, ecology, more

The University of West Alabama’s Dr. Lee Stanton and a group of UWA students will work and study at Dauphin Island Sea Lab for the coming weeks as part of the Sea Lab’s University Programs summer session, which kicked off on Monday.

Seven UWA students are registered for courses at the Sea Lab, where the mission is to pursue excellence in marine science education, research, coastal zone management policy and public engagement. While there, they will engage in hands-on experiential learning alongside researchers and expert faculty.

Stanton, an associate professor of biology in UWA’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the department of biological and environmental sciences, will teach a course on the ecology of the Florida Everglades. A Florida native, Stanton’s course gives students an immersive experience in the Everglades and its ecology.

Dr. Lee Stanton at Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Dr. Lee Stanton at Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Located on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a consortium of 22 colleges and universities in the state of Alabama. The DISL campus is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound, making it an ideal location for marine science study and research. Its unique geographic location offers researchers and students resources and close proximity for research and application in the same setting.

As the marine science campus of its member institutions, the DISL offers summer college courses for credit in topics ranging from “Dolphins and Whales” to “Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast” to “Shark and Ray Biology.” Undergraduate programs are offered only during the summer months.

For more information on Dauphin Island Sea Lab and its University Programs, visit www.disl.org. To know more about UWA’s partnership with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and its opportunities for students, contact Dr. Lee Stanton at lstanton@uwa.edu.