2023 Workshops

The below workshops have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 program. Participants will choose two workshops to attend during concurrent sessions on the afternoon of Day 1. No advanced registration is needed; this is provided for informational purposes only.

1. Tell Your Own Story Online

Workshop Lead: Sarah Curry
Overview: Use your phone to tell your own story. With social media being the ever present way to communicate your message and/or market your business, it’s easier than ever to reach new audiences. But it can be hard. In this workshop you will learn how to think about visually communicating your message in a way that feels right for you and your business. Bring your phone and a few ideas on some basic stories you might like to share with the world. For example, who you are, the motivation for your work, the coolest thing you’re working on, or an overview of the conference you’re attending. 

2. Science Policy Careers

Workshop Lead: Dr. Marcy Cockrell
Overview: Have you ever wondered what a career in science policy entails, or what science policy even is? Join this workshop to hear from an exciting and distinguished panel of professional women working at the intersection of aquaculture and science policy. In this moderated “fireside chat” style panel, workshop participants will learn more about what science policy is, what an educational and career path in science policy might entail, and discuss how science policy can be used to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in science more generally. There will be ample time reserved for Q&A with the panelists.

3. Effectively Communicating Ocean and Climate Change

Workshop Leads: Blair Morrison and Dana Henderson
Overview: Trying to communicate climate change, but people just don’t seem to respond to your facts and science? Come learn how to be a more effective and compelling climate communicator! Join us as we introduce the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI), a collective of over 500 climate communicators, and evidence-backed strategies for talking about climate change. In this workshop, attendees will learn how specific values and metaphors make audiences more receptive to ocean/climate change messaging and how we can change the national discourse to be more positive, civic-minded, and solutions-focused. We will also discuss  (and practice!) strategic framing of sustainable aquaculture as a climate solution that can be woven into communications with a variety of stakeholders.

4. Photovoice: a community based approach to social science research

Workshop Lead: Natalie Lord 
Overview: Join this session to learn about a participatory research approach, the photovoice methodology! During this workshop, you will learn about how to conduct a photovoice project which includes a multi-step process: participant training, photo documentation, written narratives, one-on-one interviews, a focus group, and a community outreach event. Photovoice is a unique research method that allows the participants to take the lead in conducting data collection and guide the outcomes of the project. The workshop format will include a brief presentation of the methodology, time for questions and discussion about equitable engagement of research participants, and a mini photovoice focus group activity.

5. Gullah Geechee Foundations in Aquaculture

Workshop Leads: Marilyn L Hemingway and Victoria Smalls
Overview: Join executive directors from two organizations, The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GGCHC) and the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce (GGCC), as they share the captivating intersection of Gullah Geechee heritage and the realm of aquaculture. In this enlightening session, we will delve into the profound impact of aquaculture on the lives of Gullah Geechee farming and fishing communities, shedding light on the collaborative efforts between GGCHC, GGCC and local communities, as well as federal agencies like NOAA, to champion sustainable marine aquaculture. The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West and Central Africans enslaved in the lower Atlantic states during the era of slavery. Their distinctive heritage, nurtured on isolated coastal plantations, finds expression in their culinary traditions, arts, crafts, and the unique Gullah language. Join us to explore the enduring legacy of the Gullah Geechee people and uncover how aquaculture serves as a foundational pillar for cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Our workshop promises to inspire, educate, and deepen your appreciation for the indelible impact of the Gullah Geechee on American culture and history.

Questions or comments? Email us at womenofthewater.conference@gmail.com

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Hayley Lemoine (she/her)

Florida State University PhD candidate, Florida Sea Grant Graduate Student Fellow

Hayley Lemoine is a PhD candidate in the Geography Department at Florida State University and a Florida Sea Grant Aquaculture Communications and Outreach Graduate Student Fellow. She is interested in the social and ecological dynamics of seafood systems. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on livelihood diversification and stakeholder perceptions in aquaculture. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Hayley earned a Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Vassar College.

Dr. Laura Tiu (she/her)

Sea Grant Extension Director, Walton County

Dr. Tiu is a Marine Science Extension Agent with the University of Florida Sea Grant. Her areas of expertise include aquaculture, technology transfer, industry development and environmental education. Signature projects include leadership of a state-wide aquaponics program and sustainable development of offshore aquaculture. She supports the Florida Micro-plastic Awareness Project and the Florida-friendly Fishing Gide programs, teaches Florida Master Naturalist courses, and promotes environmental awareness through eco-tours, museum displays, and lectures in the panhandle of Florida. In her free time, Laura loves to hang out at the beach, kayak and travel.

Portia Sapp

Division Director, FDACS Division of Aquaculture

Portia Sapp joined the Department in October 2005 as an Environmental Supervisor in the Aquaculture Certification and Best Management Practices program in the Bartow field office and was promoted to her current position of Director of the Division of Aquaculture in January 2019. Portia chairs the FDACS Science Advisory Workgroup (SAW) and is the head of the Ag in Education subgroup within SAW. Prior to working for state government, she worked conducting mass spectrometry for volatile organic compounds in an aquatic ecotoxicology laboratory and managed livestock for Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Master of Science from Towson University in Maryland specializing in fish physiology and ecology. She serves on the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Molluscan Shellfish Subcommittee, the Florida Farm Bureau Aquaculture Advisory Committee, the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative Community Advisory Board and the Pensacola Bay System Stakeholder Working Group.

Kaitlyn Theberge (she/her)

Knauss Fellow, Seafood Resources, National Sea Grant

Kaitlyn Theberge is the 2023 Seafood Resources Knauss Fellow at the National Sea Grant Office where she is conducting a needs assessment for aquaculture-related programs at Minority Serving Institutions. Before the fellowship, Kaitlyn completed a Master of Science degree in Fish & Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech. Here she developed population dynamics models testing the effects of management decisions on egg production and adult size distribution by sex of American and European lobsters. Between her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Kaitlyn has held numerous positions leading to experience in oyster farming, ornamental fish aquaculture, marine science education, GIS mapping, and more. When she isn’t diving into the sustainable seafood world, Kaitlyn enjoys socializing her dog and turning her home office into a potted garden.

Dr. Kevan Main

Senior Scientist Emeritus, Mote Marine Lab and Aquaculture Park

Dr. Kevan Main served on the 2022 steering committee for Women of the Water (WOW), which took place at Mote Marine Laboratory in June 2022 and she is excited to be a part of the 2023 WOW steering committee. Dr. Main led Mote’s aquaculture research programs from 2001-2022 and was the Director of Mote’s 200-acre field station, Mote Aquaculture Research Park, in eastern Sarasota County. She retired from Mote in 2023 and is now an Emeritus Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory. Dr. Main is a lifetime member of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), having served on the Board of Directors and as President in 2012-2013. She continues to work closely with the WAS African Chapter to help the Board and members grow the African Chapter. Dr. Main is Vice Chairperson of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) Technical Advisory Group. ASC has developed certification standards that promote responsible seafood farming to help feed the world’s population. Her research interests are in developing sustainable aquaculture methods to produce marine fish, sturgeon, shrimp, abalone, and corals through aquaculture. Dr. Main received her Ph.D. from Florida State University and has more than 30 years of experience in the aquaculture of tropical and subtropical fish and invertebrates from around the world. She has published seven books and more than 98 peer-reviewed publications and has traveled to aquaculture facilities throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. In 2016, Dr. Main was recognized as a “White House Champion of Change for Sustainable Seafood” and in 2023, she received the National Aquaculture Association Joseph P. McCraren Award for outstanding contributions in promoting the growth of aquaculture.

Dr. Nicole Rhody

Program Manager & Senior Scientist, Mote Marine Lab and Aquaculture Park

Dr. Nicole Rhody joined Mote Marine Laboratory’s staff in 2001 and is part of Mote’s Directorate of Fisheries & Aquaculture. Dr. Rhody’s work at Mote Aquaculture Research Park focuses on the sustainable production of high-value marine finfish for both land-based and offshore aquaculture systems. Current research topics include work related to improving fish culture technologies and optimizing broodstock management protocols that ensure the production of high quality eggs and larvae. Additional research activities cover a range of topics such as finfish reproductive physiology, biological rhythms, endocrinology of growth and reproduction, genetics in aquaculture, gonadal morphology, larviculture, zooplankton and phytoplankton culture. Rhody received her doctorate in Fish Reproductive Biology and Physiology at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling, Scotland UK.

Dr. Marcy Cockrell (she/her), Co-Director

Science Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture

Dr. Cockrell is a marine biologist, science communicator, environmental educator, and community organizer. Her work focuses broadly on understanding how changing regulations impact marine resources as well as the people living and working in coastal communities. Throughout her career, Dr. Cockrell has focused on using science to empower communities, especially young women and girls, and strives to bring science into regulatory and policy decision-making for ocean and coastal management challenges. She has worked diligently to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM through a range of personal and professional activities, including serving as a mentor for the USF Oceanography Camp for Girls, being an active member of the National Science Policy Network’s DEI committee, and being a founding member of the Women of the Water conference and professional network. She is excited to once again be serving as Co-Director for this year’s Women of the Water conference.

Dr. Cockrell earned her Ph.D. in marine science from the University of South Florida in 2018, was a National Academies Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellow from 2018-2019, worked for the Florida Division of Aquaculture from 2019-2022, and now works as the Science for Management Coordinator with the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture. She is a New Jersey native and enjoys hiking, gardening, baking, playing volleyball, and spending time with her husband and two cats. You can learn more about her work and connect through LinkedIn.

Blair Morrison (she/her), Co-Director

Science and Monitoring Program Lead, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

Blair currently serves as the Science and Monitoring Program Lead for the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. In this role, she coordinates with scientists and stakeholders on the long-term monitoring and evaluation of ecosystems throughout watersheds of Mobile Bay. Born as a passion project from her science policy fellowship with the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program and the FDACS Division of Aquaculture in 2022, she is so thrilled to see the second year of Women of the Water come to fruition!

Although she hails from the landlocked hills of Kentucky, Blair has always wanted to be a marine scientist. This passion for the ocean brought her to Alabama, where she graduated with a B.S. in Marine Science/Biology from the University of Alabama (2018) and an M.S. in Marine Sciences from the University of South Alabama (2021). Although her research has taken place over a variety of localities and a wide array of study organisms, Blair’s work features the central themes of estuaries, disturbance, water quality, and climate change. Outside of the workplace, she enjoys hiking, birdwatching, cooking, crafting, taking care of far too many plants, and spoiling her pet turtle, Freddy