Two Alcorn State University agriculture environmental science majors, Evan Murphy and Nicholas Runnels, along with an 1890 visiting scholar, Daniel Howard, from North Carolina A&T, recently embarked on a research excursion aboard the Point Sur Research Vessel as part of the new Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative (MissDelta).
From June 16-18, 2025, the students, accompanied by Dr. Monica Burr and Dr. Idowu Atoloye from Alcorn’s Department of Agriculture, traveled from the marina in Venice, Louisiana, down the main channel to the Gulf of Mexico. The hands-on experience provided invaluable insights into aquatic ecosystem research.
During the expedition, students actively observed and participated in crucial water sample parameter collections, including turbidity and salinity measurements, as well as soil coring operations on the Gulf of Mexico floor.
“Undergraduate students had the opportunity to observe state-of-the-art equipment used on a research vessel that explores aquatic ecosystems from riverine to ocean/gulf,” said Dr. Monica Burr, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Alcorn State University. “Participating in this experiential learning exposed students to equipment used to collect variables that will assess the environmental factors impacting the lower Mississippi River ecosystem.”
Atoloye, an assistant professor of soil science, highlighted a striking observation, saying, “When we went out on the Point Sur research vessel, one of the things that caught my attention was all the dredging going on. As soon as we left the shore, I could see these big machines working in the water. I found out they do this every day just to keep the shipping channels open.”
This excursion directly contributes to MissDelta’s broader goal of diversifying the workforce in coastal-deltaic issues.
According to MissDelta, the Gulf Coast is home to a large African American college student population, yet only one regional minority-serving institution, Jackson State University, currently offers a marine science degree.
“MissDelta aims to expand opportunities for persons from this region to fully engage as scholars in this work and expand regional representation in its research community,” Dr. Burr added.
The Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative, a long-term project of the Gulf Research Program (GRP), aims to bridge research gaps through cooperative and collaborative programs involving the GRP, academic institutions, communities, and government and NGO end-users. The initiative supports improving scientific understanding of the Birdsfoot region’s future evolution and its implications for Gulf ecosystems, infrastructure, communities, and management plans.
This invaluable experience on the Point Sur Research Vessel not only provided Alcorn State University students with critical hands-on research skills and exposure to advanced scientific equipment but also supports the University’s commitment to fostering the next generation of diverse environmental scientists.
By engaging in such impactful initiatives, Alcorn State University continues to strengthen its role as a leading institution in experiential learning and contributes significantly to broadening representation and expertise in vital coastal and environmental research, ultimately advancing both its students’ careers and the broader scientific community.
