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About Us

Staff

Dr. Steve Morton is the program's founder and Principle Investigator for Phytoplankton Monitoring Network. Ms. Allison Sill is the Program Coordinator and Editor of the Plankton News and Mr. Jeff Paternoster is the Program Outreach Specialist. Allison is responsible for the volunteer program in MA, Chesapeake Bay, NC, AL, and HI while Jeff is responsible for the volunteer program in SC, GA, FL, and TX. Ms. Kimberly Nowocin is the Program Web Site Coordinator and Database contact. more >>

Goals

PMN is an outreach program with the ultimate goal of linking laboratory scientists to the general public. Traditionally scientists rarely interacted with the public they serve. The link PMN provides, fosters a more informed public while providing qualitative data to scientists. The connection between the general public and laboratory scientists is possible due to adherence to our 7 specific goals:

• To create a comprehensive list of harmful algal species inhabiting coastal marine waters
• To monitor and maintain an extended survey area along coastal waters throughout the year
• To isolate areas prone to harmful algal blooms (HABs) for further study by Marine Biotoxins researchers
• To identify general trends, such as time and area, where HABs are more likely to occur
• To promote increased awareness and education to the public, particularly students, on HABs
• To increase the public's awareness of research conducted by federal and state workers on HABs
• To create a working relationship with open communication between volunteers and researchers through PMN

History

In January 2001, the South Carolina Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (SCPMN) was established within NOAA's Marine Biotoxins Program to educate the public, particularly students, on harmful algal blooms (HABs), while expanding the knowledge of phytoplankton that exist in South Carolina's marine waters. more >>