Sarai Hutchinson
2023-2025 Graduate Fellow
Sarai Hutchinson embarked on an exciting journey with her thesis proposal, which focused on using crushed glass and Sargassum seaweed to grow red and white mangroves in a land-based nursery. With the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, Sarai gained valuable insights into the complexities and challenges of mangrove restoration. This project was more than just research; it was part of a broader mission to advance mangrove monitoring and restoration while repurposing waste and nuisance species.
Some highlights of Sarai's fellowship included engaging with the community through classroom sessions, educational displays, and mangrove cleanups. She loved witnessing the joy on students' faces during lab tours or when they participated in mangrove outplantings. What truly excites Sarai is the opportunity to be outdoors, immersed in nature, helping to restore vital coastlines.
This fellowship has been a pivotal opportunity for Sarai, opening doors to hands-on experience in the field and providing valuable networking opportunities that will shape her future. She has attended several academic conferences, including SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science), CERF (Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation), and NMEA (National Marine Educators Association), where she will have the opportunity to present her thesis research findings at CERF. She also participated in a learning exchange in Abaco, Bahamas, with the E-Club of the Caribbean, the Rotary Club of Abaco and the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club, assisting with a red mangrove restoration project on disturbed marls. These experiences are laying the foundation for a career in restorative aquaculture. By the end of this fellowship, she hopes to carve a path that seamlessly transitions her into this field, aligning perfectly with her passion for environmental restoration and sustainability.
