Sunflower Star Laboratory is proud to partner with Minorities in Aquaculture to sponsor a paid internship for the fall of 2023/Spring of 2024 and Summer of 2024. We are splitting the costs to cover the internship with Minorities in Aquaculture and are raising funds specifically for our portion.

Our goal to restore the sunflower star (pycnopodia helianthoides) and save the kelp doesn't take place in a vacuum focus purely on the environment, but rather gives us an opportunity to drive social good. In addition to our conservation goals, Sunflower Star Lab provides opportunities for students and members of our local community to learn about aquaculture and participate in research. 

Your generosity will help Sunflower Star Laboratory and pycnopodia conservartion by:

• Guaranteeing laboratory support during a critical phase in our development and in the pycnopodia recovery mission
• Allowing us to answer more research questions about echinoderm rearing by dedicating a student to specific research questions
• Creating and solidifying partnerships with local educational institutions
• Developing protocols and processes to support student research on a larger / ongoing basis in the future
• Provide our lab with additional diverse perspectives at a phase with ample ability to influence our development

Your generosity will help the Minorities in Aquaculture mission to promote a more diverse, inclusive aquaculture industry by:

• Providing access to research and laboratory experience to an intern free of financial barriers
• Generating new opportunities and partnerships for Minorities in Aquaculture in the Monterey Area
• Promoting diversity in the aquaculture industry by widening the pipeline of those with laboratory experience to include more candidates from previously under-represented groups