For 2 years, Nova Southeastern College pupil Bianca Ruiz logged on remotely for a digital internship with Florida Keys Nationwide Marine Sanctuary. When she lastly had the prospect to journey from her Miami house to satisfy the crew she had solely generally known as tiles on a pc display screen, she rapidly realized the tangible impact of her digital task.
In the midst of a gathering on the sanctuary’s Key Largo workplace, Ruiz was unexpectedly awarded the group’s 2025 Volunteer of the Yr Award.
“After we obtained pulled right into a morning assembly, I didn’t suppose a lot of it at first,” Ruiz stated. “So it was a whole shock when a slide popped up on the display screen with a photograph of me, saying that I had been awarded Volunteer of the Yr. I used to be utterly shocked, particularly since I hadn’t even recognized the award existed. My shock rapidly became gratitude. One of many issues I’ve loved most about volunteering right here is the liberty I’ve needed to form and develop my initiatives.”
Ruiz joined the sanctuary in 2023, and through her digital service, reviewed 50 papers associated to human use and impacts in Florida Keys Nationwide Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). She later created a system to doc the related findings of analysis publications on human dimensions of useful resource administration, a framework for recording info from literature evaluations that different digital volunteers and interns nonetheless use.
Within the second summer time of her internship, Ruiz joined the Mission: Iconic Reefs crew, the place she performed an in-depth literature evaluation on sea snail predation throughout Caribbean coral reefs after which created a public-facing social math useful resource, translating advanced metrics into relatable visuals and storytelling.
“I’m extremely proud to work alongside volunteers like Bianca who give their time to help our nationwide marine sanctuaries,” stated Lindsey Crews, FKNMS science and outreach coordinator. “Bianca is an extremely onerous employee, and I’m so grateful for the chance to acknowledge her contributions.”
Ruiz is now in graduate faculty at NSU, pursuing a grasp’s diploma in marine sciences, after which she hopes to use her data in science schooling inside the nationwide marine sanctuaries. Twenty-five of the publications she researched have been associated to understanding leisure boating impacts on coral and seagrass habitats.
“I’m significantly occupied with how anthropogenic exercise can influence ecosystem dynamics and marine life in South Florida,” stated Ruiz, “working alongside scientists and stakeholders to boost consciousness of those impacts. Moreover, I hope to collaborate with anglers and divers to higher perceive how these ecosystems help their lifestyle and the way they will play a task in restoration and conservation efforts inside marine protected areas.”
The sanctuary has one full-time worker for each 105 sq. miles of protected water, so volunteers, together with some who’re licensed as NOAA divers, play an important position.
“Every year, I’m humbled by how a lot worth added our volunteers present to the sanctuary to help the exercise occurring right here,” stated David Burke, performing superintendent. “It’s nice to see they’re getting acknowledged on the nationwide degree for the efforts they put in.”
Volunteer alternatives stay, particularly on the sanctuary’s Eco-Discovery Heart in Key West. Extra info is obtainable by way of e mail to elizabeth.trueblood@noaa.gov.