21-03-2025
Francis Marion University awarded grant for new aquatic research vessel
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Students at Francis Marion University will be given hands-on research experiences with a new aquatic research vessel, provided by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, according to a news release from the university.
Faculty and staff will be able to engage in immersive research opportunities, including large-scale water quality sampling, discharge monitoring, contour mapping, hydrological surveys, and substrate sampling, a news release said.
'Duke Energy Foundation has long been a strong supporter of Francis Marion University,' FMU President Fred Carter said.
This grant is the third in a series of grants that the university has received from Duke Energy Foundation aimed at enhancing student learning in environmental studies.
'This generous grant will play a pivotal role in providing additional aquatic opportunities for our students, especially those studying biology and environmental science,' Carter furthered. 'I am deeply appreciative of the support Duke Energy continues to provide.'
The foundation also provided FMU with a grant in 2019 to purchase an electrofishing vessel. This vessel is used in a variety of courses and benefits the university's biology and environmental science and studies programs, a release said.
The electrofishing vessel also provides an immersive experience for students and gives them real world training. The university said that there have been nine undergraduate conference presentations and one publication have resulted from the use of the vessel.
These projects have included the trophic dynamic of the fish community in the Great Pee Dee River, larval fish community assessment in the Great Pee Dee River, juvenile striped bass habitat use, and the shape analysis of the longnose gar, among others.
Prior to this most recent grant, the university also received a grant funding another student experiential vehicle, a Winnebago, that will be used as a mobile learning lab by FMU students, particularly those in the sciences.
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