Knauss fellow Molly Cain joins NOAA Research

Posted January 5th, 2021 in Fellowships, Sustainable Community Planning
Molly Cain presenting research poster

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is pleased to announce Molly Cain as a Knauss fellow for the Class of 2021. Molly is a PhD student at Indiana University and studies how agricultural modifications to landscapes affect the delivery of water and nutrients to waterways, and, in turn, the role of natural features like floodplain wetlands in improving water quality. Molly recently finished the Knauss placement process, where fellows typically travel to Washington, DC to interview with government agencies and learn where they will spend the next year. Below, Molly shares her experience from the first virtual placement week.

Molly CainAfter over 40 video calls with 20 host offices, I was excited to receive my fellowship placement with NOAA Research’s Congressional Analysis and Research Division (CARD). While placement week usually requires finalists to run around DC meeting with potential hosts, this year was a bit different. Instead of navigating a bustling city, I sat at my kitchen table with my laptop and a mug of coffee completing up to 8 virtual interviews a day, often back-to-back. While easier on the feet, it was still a grueling week. However, it was also an inspiring one. I had fun getting to know so many incredible people working within the federal government on water resources and environmental issues. I only wish I could work in all the offices I interviewed with!

Ultimately, I was drawn to the CARD team and was ecstatic to be placed there. My main goal during the fellowship year is to learn how scientific knowledge feeds into the policy-making cycle. As a member of the CARD team, I will participate in this process directly. CARD’s mission is to ensure that Congress is aware of NOAA’s research activities and understands how that research benefits the country. They translate scientific information for a congressional audience and interpret congressional action for a scientific audience. Effectively communicating science to policymakers is increasingly valued within the scientific community and important for enhancing the impact of scientific research. I am excited to spend a year honing these skills. I also look forward to representing the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and working at NOAA again. My undergraduate internship through NOAA’s Hollings Scholarship program was a formative experience that led me to pursue a career as a researcher working on water resources issues. Returning to a NOAA office nearly 7 years later feels like I’ve come full circle, in the best way possible.

 

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a part of University of Illinois Extension and Purdue Extension.

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The gales of November may come early, but, as usual, the nominations for the Lakies are right on time along with our official call for nominations!

Brought to you by the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, The Lakies (aka "quite possibly not the least prestigious Great Lakes-focused awards ceremony there is”) are back.

Our goal isn`t to be the Official Arbiters of Quality, but to host a fun celebration of amazing Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and communication in the inimitable Teach Me style.

Nomination categories are:
-Great Lakes Science Communication of the Year
-Great Lakes Outreach Program of the Year
-Great Lakes News Event of the Year
-Great Lakes Research Finding of the Year
-Coolest Thing You Learned Listening to TMATGL in 2025
-Science Podcast of the Year (Non-TMATGL edition)
-Great Lakes Animal of the Year
-Great Lakes Non-Animal of the Year
-Great Lakes Sandwich of the Year
-Great Lakes Donut of the Year

The Details:
-Deadline: Nominations close on December 4th.
Process: It`s easy (just enter the name/title and a link).
-Self-Nominations: Highly encouraged. Don`t be shy.

We’d love to get a broad swath of work across both the serious and less-serious categories to celebrate. Feel free to pass the link on to interested people: https://bit.ly/Lakies25

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17913992691239654
The gales of November may come early, but, as usual, the nominations for the Lakies are right on time along with our official call for nominations! Brought to you by the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, The Lakies (aka "quite possibly not the least prestigious Great Lakes-focused awards ceremony there is”) are back. Our goal isn't to be the Official Arbiters of Quality, but to host a fun celebration of amazing Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and communication in the inimitable Teach Me style.Nomination categories are:-Great Lakes Science Communication of the Year-Great Lakes Outreach Program of the Year-Great Lakes News Event of the Year-Great Lakes Research Finding of the Year-Coolest Thing You Learned Listening to TMATGL in 2025-Science Podcast of the Year (Non-TMATGL edition)-Great Lakes Animal of the Year-Great Lakes Non-Animal of the Year-Great Lakes Sandwich of the Year-Great Lakes Donut of the YearThe Details: -Deadline: Nominations close on December 4th.Process: It's easy (just enter the name/title and a link).-Self-Nominations: Highly encouraged. Don't be shy.We’d love to get a broad swath of work across both the serious and less-serious categories to celebrate. Feel free to pass the link on to interested people: https://bit.ly/Lakies25

Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension
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When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM EST
Where: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944
Registration Link in bio.
‌
Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:
-Hear Research Findings
-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session
-Learn Real World Application
-Tour a Shrimp Farm
-Network at the “After Hour Social”
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This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.
‌
For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18100693840687186
Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension‌When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM ESTWhere: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944Registration Link in bio.‌Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:-Hear Research Findings-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session-Learn Real World Application-Tour a Shrimp Farm-Network at the “After Hour Social”‌This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.‌For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)
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