Posts by mrichlen
WHCOHH JP Student Serena Negroni Awarded MIT HEALS Graduate Fellowship
ongratulations to WHCOHH Joint Program student Serena Negroni, who has been selected as a 2026–2027 MIT HEALS Graduate Fellow.
The MIT HEALS Graduate Fellowship supports outstanding graduate students whose work advances bold, interdisciplinary approaches to health research. As MIT HEALS describes its fellows, they are “bold, cross-disciplinary thinkers tackling major challenges in health and life sciences.”
Congratulations to Serena on this well-deserved recognition!
View the full list of 2026–2027 MIT HEALS Graduate Fellows: https://heals.mit.edu/graduate-fellowships/#fellows
Read MoreCenters for Oceans and Human Health Annual Meeting
The Joint Centers for Oceans and Human Health Annual Meeting was held from May 18-20 in Woods Hole, MA. Thanks to all for attending! Please visit the conference website for more information: https://events.whoi.edu/cohh4.
Read MoreNew Publication: Introducing “Algal-dromes”
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing worldwide, but their impacts on human health remain underrecognized and difficult to diagnose. A new paper co-authored by CEC Lead Mindy Richlen introduces the concept of “algal-dromes”—a novel framework for understanding the syndromes caused by exposure to algal toxins. By grouping illnesses based on shared mechanisms of action, this approach helps simplify diagnosis and highlights connections across toxin types. Please click HERE to view and download.
Read More13th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae – Registration open!
Early Registration now open for the 13th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae (US-HABs 2026), to be held October 25–29, 2026 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Researchers, students, and professionals working on all aspects of harmful algal blooms are invited to attend!
Read MoreWHOI Joins Bloom Response Effort in Australia
Project 1 Co-Investigator Don Anderson recently joined an international team providing guidance to government officials in South Australia as they respond to the catastrophic impacts of a massive Karenia bloom. The event has devastated wildlife and caused respiratory symptoms in beachgoers.
Learn more about this event and Dr. Anderson’s participation here and here.
Saving Our Ponds Film Series!
The WHCOHH Community Engagement Core and Circuit Films, in collaboration with many community partners, created an outreach film series entitled “Saving Our Ponds”. The six-video series explores the recent increase and impacts of these blooms, discusses how individuals can protect themselves and their pets, and highlights the importance of preserving and restoring water quality. The “Saving Our Ponds” film series is available for viewing on WHOI’s YouTube channel.
Read MoreLearn about new HABhub features and capabilities!
Visit the HABhub blog to learn about latest updates to the WHOI HABhub, and how these tools and features promote data access and analysis.
Read MoreSaving Our Ponds Featured by NIEHS and PEPH
The six-part outreach film series Saving Our Ponds, created by the WHCOHH CEC, was recently highlighted as “Featured Material” by the Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) network and featured in the August 2024 issue of Environmental Factor from NIEHS.
View the series playlist and watch individual films here.
Read MoreStrategic Framework for Community Engagement in Oceans and Human Health
Northeast HAB Website
The management of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New England has grown more challenging due to the emergence of New HAB species that can cause seafood poisoning and disrupt ecosystems. The Northeast HAB website was created as a regional resource that provides background information as well as access to bloom monitoring data and commentary, forecasting model products, and data collected by HAB sensors deployed throughout the region.
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