May 2025
Greetings, LIT GEO Team! As spring ushers in a season of renewal and opportunity, we are inspired to embrace this time with the dedication and purpose that define our work at LIT GEO. With nature awakening around us, we invite each of you—whether engaged in mentorship, research, teaching, outreach, or collaboration within our Intercultural Network—to channel this energy into advancing our shared mission. Together, we continue to address the critical Geoscience needs of North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and beyond, fostering impactful geoscience research that strengthens our communities.
Our Mission in Action
LIT GEO thrives by valuing the expertise and contributions of every team member. This spring, our leadership—representing three esteemed educational institutions—is focused on enhancing inter-cultural mentorship opportunities and graduate curricula. We remain committed to conducting societally relevant research that resonates with the communities we serve, and we look forward to your continued involvement in these efforts.
We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments and aspirations of LIT GEO students, whose career paths reflect the excellence and commitment central to LIT GEO’s vision. Please join us in recognizing their progress.
Kaya has been accepted into a summer internship with the Sierra Club, a prominent grassroots environmental justice organization. Kaya is also collaborating with the NC Conservation Network to support conservation efforts in North Carolina.
Hiba has earned a fellowship with the NC Conservation Network, concentrating on environmental justice and outreach in the Greenville area. Hiba was also featured on the cover of Coastwatch along with Dr. Manda and Dr. Dessimond for their work on the Faithful Hannah project. Coastwatch Magazine: Science, News, Resources
John is evaluating a Hydro Masters at ECU while also considering a career in pharmacy, showcasing a thoughtful approach to future opportunities.
José is applying to the Geology Master’s program at East Carolina University (ECU) and preparing for a summer internship in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest, merging academic pursuits with practical experience.
Giuliana recently won ECU’s Unsung Heroes Award for her work with Planet ECU and is completing a Master’s degree. She will be in a Research Assistant position this summer, with aspirations to join the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh or the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.
Katherine won the ECU award for the best presentation in Multidisciplinary Innovation at ECU’s recent Research and Creative Achievement Week during the university’s R1 celebration. Katherine is also part of a team approved for EOSA funding for her thesis research. Home | Research and Creative Achievement Week | ECU
UPRA PB students presented their research work in the biggest scientific gathering in Puerto Rico, the 43rd Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting (PRISM).
Students also presented at the 58th ACS Junior Technical Meeting, which was celebrated at the UPR—Rio Piedras campus. More than 500 undergraduate students presented talks about their research, and more than 100 post-bacc and graduate students presented posters. The symposium was held on April 26, 2025.
Announcements and project updates
We have a working index to make it easier to access files. You can add any of your file's links here; they do not have to be on teams. LIT GEO Index of Project Resources.xlsx
You can now follow our social media pages as we publish information, and please share opportunities as you can. You can use this link to follow our accounts now: linktr.ee/litgeo
Geological Society of America offers research and travel grant opportunities for students. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Heimann Ríos. Click here for more information