ODU Doctoral Student Wins Polar Conference Poster Award in Russia

Andrea Piñones, a doctoral student at Old Dominion University's Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO), received the best student poster award at the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Meeting July 8-11 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

"The selection of Ms. Piñones for the award speaks well for her and her research because she was compared to a large number of other students," said Eileen Hofmann, professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences and Piñones' mentor.

Hofmann, together with Michael Dinniman, a CCPO research scientist, and John Klinck, professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences, are co-authors of the poster. The title of their project is "Simulations of Lagrangian Particles on the Western Antarctic Peninsula: The Effect of Circulation Dynamics."

Lagrangian particle dispersion models can map the circulation of a fluid. Piñones' research focuses on measuring the circulation of waters off the western Antarctic Peninsula and determining its effects.

During her visit to Russia, Piñones attended a polar early career workshop organized by an international network of polar scientists. "Participating in the workshop and later the conference was a rewarding experience for me and my future career," she said. "Of course, none of these great experiences would have been possible without Dr. Hofmann's support and advice. I am deeply grateful to have such a great mentor."

Piñones, who received her master's degree from ODU in 2006 following her undergraduate education in her native Chile, plans to return to her home country after she receives her Ph.D. and conduct more research in the Southern Ocean. "Hopefully, I can continue my collaboration with ODU and other South American countries actively developing research in Antarctica."

The SCAR Open Science Meeting, which is held every two years, was larger than usual this year, Hofmann said, because it was co-convened by the International Arctic Science Committee as part of the International Polar Year activities.