We are excited to welcome our Summer 2022 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! As a part of our team, they will assist with Ocean Explorers Education programs, outreach events, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. They are:
Cayla Bernstein graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Social & Behavioral Health Sciences and a minor in Environmental Policy. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and spent many summers with family in Barbados. When she was younger she participated in Project Citizen and implemented a recycling program in her school. In college, Cayla conducted research on eutrophication of Florida waters and its effect on quality of life. She also served as an orientation leader on campus and a volunteer at the Humane Society. Recently she has worked on installing oyster shell bags in Tampa Bay to create habitat and slow erosion along the shoreline. Cayla is a foodie in her free time and enjoys roller skating, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking, and she is excited for the opportunities that await at REEF.
Lauren Bulik attends Clemson University where she is pursuing a dual B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resources and Biological Sciences. She is grew up in Long Island, New York, and chose to to pursue a career studying the ocean after completing an independent research project on microplastic pollution in her local bay. At Clemson, she joined a research lab to study the impacts of marine debris. She also conducted coral reef surveys in the Florida Keys with her lab. Lauren is passionate about sharing knowledge with the public to encourage community efforts in marine conservation. She taught children about marine ecosystems and ocean health through an immersive STEM and arts program with South Carolina elementary schoolers and volunteered as a Discovery Guide with the New York Aquarium. She is thrilled to continue her journey and be part of the REEF team.
Grace Davis graduated from Hollins University with a B.A. in Business and minor in Psychology. She has always had a love of the outdoors, environment, and the oceans. While in college, she was a trip leader in the Hollins Outdoor Program, where she enjoyed taking fellow students on outdoor adventures like hiking, paddling, and rock climbing. She also completed the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course and earned the Hollins Outdoor Leadership Certificate. In her sophomore year, she hosted a screening of a marine conservation documentary film to spark interest in environmental conservation in her peers and the community. She loves diving, teaching, and community outreach, and hopes to use her business background to support REEF's work as a nonprofit. Grace is excited to be a REEF intern and to learn more about marine life, specifically the invasive lionfish.
Alyssa Estrada graduated from the University of New Haven with a B.S in Marine Affairs and a minor in Legal Studies. She grew up in the Bronx, New York, and became interested in marine biology when she transferred to high school in New Jersey. In college, Alyssa was a resident assistant for the Marine Biology Enhanced Learning Community, where she served as a mentor for first year students. She hosted field trips and educational programs to educate residents on environmental issues and marine science. Her senior thesis focused on determining factors that influence college students’ knowledge, awareness, and perception of climate change. Through this research, she became interested in marine education, community outreach, and marine conservation, and hopes to attend graduate school to study one of these fields. Alyssa is ecstatic to be part of the REEF team and is looking forward to gaining more experience in ocean conservation and community engagement.
Our interns are a vital part of REEF and we couldn’t accomplish our work without them. For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.