Meet Lydia Myers

INDS B.S.: Marine Conservation Science

A young lady sitting on a deck in the sun

Spring 2022 Capstone

My INDS Degree

I chose to add INDS as a second major in my sophomore year. I entered UMBC as a Biology major on the pre-med track and realized that my passion for the environment and marine life far outweighed my desire to enter any of the healthcare professions. My INDS degree in Marine Conservation Science entails coursework from the Economics, Geography and Environmental Studies, and Biology which provides interdisciplinary context to conservation situations, as well as different tools for approaching these situations and relating to their various stakeholders

Degree Mentors

  • Dr. Maggie Holland, Geography and Environmental Studies
  • Dr. Danielle Schwarzmann, Chief Economist at Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at NOAA
  • Jennifer Hamilton, Director of Community Partnership and Strategy at the National Aquarium
  • Carrie Sauter, Individualized Study

Post Graduation Plans

My long term goal is to work in marine conservation. Following graduation, I intend to work in fisheries or as a natural resource technician in order to gain experience in different field techniques and in different regions of the United States. My degree in Marine Conservation Science will allow me to consider and incorporate multiple disciplinary perspectives to approach conservation in addition to my Biology degree. Additionally, my INDS degree will provide a framework for motivating stakeholders from different disciplines and backgrounds to be active participants in conservation by being able to relate it to their home discipline.

Courses In My INDS Degree

✅ Biology of Marine and Aquatic Organisms: These courses help me to understand the basic biological mechanisms, behaviors, and needs of marine organisms. (BIOL 305, 305L, 457, 453/ MBIO 478)

✅ Finding Conservation Strategies that Work: These courses will integrate and analyze the current policy, theory, and methods involved in conservation from environmental and economic standpoints. (ENGL 391/GES 337, 328, 428/ ECON 311, 439/GES 286, 386)

✅ Individualized Study: These courses allow me to integrate multiple disciplines and perspectives to create a holistic degree plan. They also provide guidance and experience through interaction with mentors, peers, and internship requirements. (INDS 330, 335, 410, 480, 490

5/12/2023