Join us for an engaging Coastal Issues Forum!
“Student March Madness: Next-Gen Coastal Research”
Date: Monday, March 2, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Del Mar Center for Economic Development, 3209 S Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Please join us for a dynamic, student-led Coastal Issues Forum, where four students from different universities will present their research and spark conversation about the coastal issues that matter most to our community.
Presentations:
Joseph McGovern, Texas A&M University-Kingsville: Tracking colonial waterbirds to inform colony island conservation and rehabilitation
Description: Texas’ bays and estuaries support a network of colony islands that is critical for breeding waterbirds. These islands are threatened by sea level rise, erosion, and disturbance from boating. However, island rehabilitation is costly, which means we must prioritize the most cost-effective islands. One key factor is the amount and quality of foraging areas near the colony. My research uses state-of-the-art GPS transmitters deployed on Tricolored Herons (Egretta tricolor), Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens), and Great Egrets (Ardea alba) throughout the breeding season. From GPS data, we can determine where and when birds were feeding, roosting, and nesting, and how long nests were active. This information will be used in an island prioritization tool, created by the Colony Island Network Design and Implementation (CINDI) project. The tool will aid managers in choosing the most cost-effective islands for waterbird conservation.
Kimber Montanye, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: Habitat usage of Texas Southern Flounder
Description: Southern Flounder are iconic Texas flatfish that support valuable coastal fisheries. Recent stock assessments estimate that Southern Flounder populations are in the midst of severe decline. This presentation explores the habitat usage of Texas Southern Flounder, analyzing chemical signatures within the ear stones of each fish, revealing the surprising differences in habitat usage between male and female flounder and offers new insights to help protect the Texas flounder population.
Jordan Cisco, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute: Exploring microplastic concentrations and identification in our local bays
Description: This presentation will examine microplastic concentrations and identification in our local bays, with a focus on improved methods for detecting and measuring plastics in coastal waters rich in natural organic material. Accurate identification is essential for establishing reliable baseline data, providing a clear picture of current conditions and allowing scientists to track changes over time. The presentation will also briefly highlight previous research on plastic pellets, commonly known as “nurdles,” and their movement through local bays and the Gulf, offering insight into how plastic pollution travels through interconnected coastal systems.
- Networking Reception: 5:30–6:00 PM
- Interactive Presentation: 6:00–7:00 PM
Fun fact: For the fourth consecutive year, the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation is uniting students from universities across the region to highlight their exciting research at CIF!
Coastal Issues Forums (CIFs) are made possible through the generous support of our partners and are always free and open to the public, with no RSVP required.
CIFs are designed to bring together diverse community stakeholders to identify key challenges facing the Texas Coastal Bend and explore practical solutions, while also educating the public about relevant programs and opportunities. These forums foster open dialogue in a welcoming, non-biased environment that encourages learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
Networking ~ Free Food ~ Open to the Public ~ Interactive
Meet the Presenters
Joseph McGovern, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Joseph is a PhD student for the Waterfowl and Wetland Birds Lab in the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK). His current research focuses on the movement and breeding ecology of colonial waterbirds in Texas, in collaboration with the Harte Research Institute and the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program. In the past, he has worked on thermal and movement ecology of northern pintail (Anas acuta), nest monitoring of arctic-breeding shorebirds, acoustic monitoring of grassland songbirds, and surveyed for birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals, all aimed to inform science and management for conservation.
Kimber Montanye, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Kimber Montanye is a Naturalist at the Mission – Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MA-NERR) and University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI). She received her bachelor’s degree in marine science from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) in 2022 and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Marine Biology, also from TAMUCC. Prior to joining UTMSI, Kimber spent two years working with the Sport Fish Center for Science and Conservation at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science. Kimber’s past research experience includes coral reef health assessments, quantifying nesting success of coastal ornithes, mangrove regeneration, southern flounder migration, and, most recently, otolith chemistry. She began working with the MA-NERR and UTMSI in 2023. As a Naturalist, Kimber is passionate about conserving coastal wildlife and providing experiential learning opportunities by bringing students out of the classroom and on the water.
Jordan Cisco, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute
Jordan Cisco is a PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, where she works with Dr. Zhanfei Liu. Her research focuses on understanding microplastics in various environments, one of which is our local bays. Jordan specializes in developing and improving the methods scientists use to collect, prepare, and analyze these tiny plastic particles. By refining these techniques, we can be more confident in identifying what types of plastics are present and how much of them are in our bays.
Whether you’re a business owner, partner, or community supporter, there’s a place for you at the table. Come connect, contribute, and be part of the movement.
Check out some of the recorded CIF presentations on our YouTube! Click HERE!
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