Carolyn Currin
NOAA Beaufort Lab Oral Histories
Interviews with retired staff of NOAA Beaufort Lab, documenting their academic background, career path, research focus, and reflections on their work in the lab.
Dr. Carolyn Currin began her tenure at NOAA's Beaufort Lab in 1983, initially serving as a technician under Dr. Jud Kenworthy. Her career trajectory saw her later collaborating with Dr. Peter Hanson on the Status and Trends Program. In 1986, she pursued a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducting her dissertation research at the UNC-Institute of Marine Science in Morehead City, NC. Her research concentrated on the recovery and restoration of salt marshes. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Currin returned to the Beaufort Lab in 1988 as a research scientist. Her research interests expanded to include nitrogen fixation, the recovery of benthic fauna, stable isotope chemistry, and the cycling of elements in estuarine sea grasses and plants, with a continued focus on salt marsh recovery and the development of living shorelines. Dr. Currin's career at NOAA spanned over three decades, culminating in her retirement in 2020.
Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Dr. Carolyn Currin encompasses a comprehensive overview of her extensive career in marine science, with a particular emphasis on her work with salt marshes. Dr. Currin discusses her involvement in a 20-year monitoring record and her efforts in community outreach, including citizen science initiatives with schools and community organizations. She reflects on the challenges of maintaining a part-time work schedule while balancing family responsibilities. Her work on living shorelines, a method to combat coastal erosion using oysters, and the implications of sea level rise on marsh ecosystems are highlighted. Dr. Currin also addresses the significance of benthic microalgae in fishery food webs and her collaborative efforts with modelers to predict the potential loss of salt marsh habitats due to sea level rise. Furthermore, she speaks to the regulatory hurdles encountered in marsh restoration efforts. Throughout the interview, Dr. Currin shares insights into the diverse and challenging nature of her work, underscoring the real-world impact her research has had on fisheries management and coastal development policies.
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