Dorothea Altorfer, wife of one of our faculty members, created an event at the Fete de la Nature in Arnaudville, LA
Guest Undergraduate Student Completes Summer Research in Physics at UL Lafayette
Sun, 08/22/2021 - 7:17pmRenea Briner joined the Department of Physics this summer to conduct marine mammal research. She is a University of Delaware Marine Biology and Psychology double major, and Co-President of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment Club. Renea was funded by the NSF “Healthy Streams, Healthy Coasts: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Watershed Science and Education” Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at UL Lafayette (PI: Dr. Beth Stauffer, Biology). Renea worked with Professor Natalia Sidorovskaia and EESC PhD candidate Naomi Mathew. She analyzed acoustic data to detect sperm whales and determine their sizes and genders from the signals they produce. The results will give scientists insights into demographics, gender diversity, and health of the Gulf of Mexico endangered sperm whales. The team will present the results at the Acoustical Society of America meeting to be held in Seattle in December 2021. Renea and Naomi also helped organize the Slocum Glider presentation for the Summer Kids Camp.
