{"id":5,"date":"2017-03-25T00:21:46","date_gmt":"2017-03-25T00:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mera.marine.usf.edu\/?page_id=5"},"modified":"2023-03-23T13:43:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T13:43:41","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-101\" src=\"http:\/\/mera.marine.usf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/wordcloud-e1490715509564-300x237.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/wordcloud-e1490715509564-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/wordcloud-e1490715509564.jpg 691w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The MERA Investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-5 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/surfers-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/surfers-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/surfers.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-kids-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-kids-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-kids.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-family-playing-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-family-playing-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/River-mouth-family-playing.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/JAC1-sunday-low-tide-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/JAC1-sunday-low-tide-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/JAC1-sunday-low-tide.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> An innovative, beach water quality investigation that considers human behavior, water quality, and human health<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHY:<\/strong> To improve beach management and protect public health in Costa Rica, other tropical regions, and throughout the world<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHO:<\/strong> Scientists from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.smu.edu\/\">Southern Methodist University<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usf.edu\">University of South Florida<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.microbioservices.com\/\">Biological Consulting Services, INC.<\/a>\u00a0work in collaboration with Costa Rican institutions, Universities, and non-governmental, non-profit organizations<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> A beach along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> January 2017 through December\u00a02022, on-site research during 2017-2019<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-5 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CR-beach-from-the-shade-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CR-river-drainage-pipe-e1490664230644-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CR-aerial-coastline-e1490664386890-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CR-beach-surfer-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>MERA is an investigation with real-world implications<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div>People\u2019s health and the condition of environmental resources that they enjoy (like beaches!) are connected.\u00a0 In this innovative investigation, we\u00a0combine water quality measurements with information that we collect on environmental change, people\u2019s activities at the beach, and local choices about water management.\u00a0 \u00a0We will analyze these things together to better understand people\u2019s health and identify what things could potentially damage coastal water resources.\u00a0 We will use what we learn from the study to suggest avenues to improve health and well-being for beachgoers.\u00a0 We will also provide options to help sustain and protect coastal ecosystems. MERA is the first study of its kind in a tropical setting. By collaborating with our Costa Rican partners, this\u00a0investigation can help improve how local leaders manage coastal areas.\u00a0 As well, the study will provide information to people all over the world, improving everyone\u2019s understanding of how human health relates to environmental conditions, a key aim of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/topics\/sustainabledevelopmentgoals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/topics\/sustainabledevelopmentgoals&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1536706611128000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFc7yBGlhlFyn7sfj2uQouJrVpFfw\">2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a>. Ultimately, the MERA investigation is designed to help keep people healthy and make sure that the environmental resources on which they depend are healthy as well.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-205 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/mera.marine.usf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches-1024x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches-1024x226.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches-300x66.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches-768x169.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches-1200x265.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/healthybeaches.jpg 1460w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Results-Infographic-English.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RESULTS INFOGRAPHIC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The MERA Investigation WHAT: An innovative, beach water quality investigation that considers human behavior, water quality, and human health WHY: To improve beach management and protect public health in Costa Rica, other tropical regions, and throughout the world WHO: Scientists from Southern Methodist University, the University of South Florida, and Biological Consulting Services, INC.\u00a0work in &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;About Us&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512,"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5\/revisions\/512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marine.usf.edu\/mera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}