Amanda Gambale
A proposal for monitoring blue crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay region earned UMW’s Amanda Gambale ’19 a $1,500 innovation award from environmental consulting firm Marstel-Day. Gambale received the Innovation in Environmental Stewardship award at the firm’s annual Green Gala in December 2016. The award aims to encourage development of unique solutions to seemingly intractable environmental problems.
Gambale, who studies biology, will work on her project with guidance from a Marstel-Day adviser and will present her findings at the project’s conclusion. She will test her hypothesis that invasive catfish are a cause of declining blue crab populations, and that removing the non-native fish will aid in the blue crab’s recovery.
“Receiving this award really meant the world to me, because it gives me the opportunity to show everyone how passionate I am not only about my career field, but about these creatures as well,” Gambale said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing where this research takes her,” said Marstel-Day research analyst Ann Kuo.