Applying technology to conservation
DESG and Connecticut Sea Grant alum reflects on how both programs helped fuel his passion for conservation
Article by Risha Inaganti
Growing up by the waters of Connecticut and taking many marine centric classes in high school allowed Samuel Koeck to know from a young age that he was destined to work in the marine sciences.
Currently, Koeck works as a research assistant at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, but his time in the industry tracks back to his freshman year at the University of Delaware, where he studied marine science with a concentration in marine biology.
After his freshman year, Koeck began work with the Delaware and Connecticut Sea Grant Programs, where he got first-hand experience working on a shoreline restoration project.
“Getting to work on a project where I could literally see the changes I’m making while building back the shoreline cemented my passions for me,” Koeck said.
Koeck continued, saying that working with the Sea Grant Programs helped him to become even more passionate about conservation.
“The approach that was taken when restoring the shoreline was different from the basic idea of just putting on a seawall to prevent erosion,” Koeck said. “The goal was to come up with a solution that would integrate the terrestrial and marine ecosystems more directly, building up a natural solution. It was super satisfying to work on a project that could be applied to both protect coastal property and rehabilitate shoreline ecosystems.”
In addition to Koeck’s time with Delaware Sea Grant (DESG) and Connecticut Sea Grant, he worked with Sacred Heart University on various coastal remediation activities, including horseshoe crab tagging and outreach events.
During his time in college, Koeck was awarded a prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scholarship. Through NOAA, he got the opportunity to travel to Hawaii, where he analyzed water quality throughout the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The cultivation of these experiences has brought the Connecticut-native to where he is now.
In addition to his passion for the environment and animals, Koeck has an interest in mechanical engineering, taking a variety of engineering courses throughout his college career. With Wood Hole Oceanographic Institute, he is in a position that combines his two passions – working in a lab that specializes in biogeochemical sensing, where he develops instruments to help learn more about primary productivity rates and ocean acidification.
“I just love animals, ecology and the environment,” Koeck said. “I’m super passionate about conservation and how we can apply technologies to further that. I’m super happy with my current role, but I do recognize I would not have been here without my prior work experiences.”
Koeck mentioned that DESG exposed him to new scientific ideas and gave him valuable work experience. According to Koeck, it was current DESG associate director, Christian Hauser, who helped expand his horizons.
Koeck thanks both Hauser and Joanna York, director of DESG, for their constant support and assistance throughout his career.
“I’m super thankful for the position I had at Sea Grant,” Koeck said. “It showed me a lot and really set me up for success.”
To read more about Koeck’s experience with both DESG and Connecticut Sea Grant, check out this story from Connecticut Sea Grant.