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Congratulations to Melis Ӧkter for receiving the first, annual NOAA Diversity in External Services Award. Melis is one of our coastal management specialists supporting our subcontract with NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. This award recognizes Melis’ work establishing partnerships and networks to create a safe space to learn and share about diversity and equity issues. Melis provided information and resources, such as risk communication and nature-based solutions, from the client to underserved communities. In addition, Melis is a leader of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, whose staff work closely with local communities. A big congratulations to Melis on this well-deserved award!

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Training Citizen Scientists on Identifying Harmful Phytoplankton Within their Communities

Since 2018, CSS employee owners have provided support to NOAA’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) program, which is managed out of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). NOAA’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network provides a highly valued bridge between the public and aquatic ecosystem researchers. Through this program, citizen scientists collect water samples from their designated…

NG-23 rocket launched

Preparing and Delivering Samples for Travel to the International Space Station

CSS employee owners on contract with NASA delivered six newly prepared Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA)—a high temperature furnace with temperature and timing control for melting samples to create different materials and alloys—samples for the NG-23 launch, which took place on September 14, 2025. On this mission, samples are being delivered for…

Presenting and Networking at Coastal Geotools 2023

The Coastal Geotools conference in Charleston, SC. enables our staff to learn new skills and approaches from their peers, and expand their networks within the geospatial community.