Athlete, scholar working amid pandemic to keep Central Florida environmentally strong

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The coronavirus pandemic has kept athletes from performing on the court, but it also denied Bethune-Cookman volleyball player Miranda White from showcasing her skills off the court.

White was one of 60 undergraduate researchers who were selected to present at the Posters On The Hill in Washington D.C.

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According to the Council on Undergraduate Research, Posters On The Hill allows members of Congress and their staff members to learn about the importance of undergraduate research through talking directly with the student researchers involved in these programs. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced the event to be done virtually.

“It was very, very disappointing," White said. "I had it on my calendar. I already picked out my outfit. But I am glad that everyone made the safe choice to present all our projects virtually and that was also an awesome opportunity as well.”

White was the first student accepted into Bethune-Cookman’s Integrated Environmental Science Program that allows students to pursue both a bachelors degree and master’s degree in five years. Her research project was on the devastating algal blooms in the Indian River Lagoon.

”The whole basis of it was trying to find the most efficient indicator, whether that was phosphorous, nitrogen, salinity, temperature anything," she said. "The most efficient indicators to predict that from previous conditions in that lagoon. This is something that everyone needs to work on and it’s not going to be just one project that fixes the problem.”

White was recognized for her work recently and named Bethune-Cookman Athletics “Woman of the Year.” Her coach Brittany Williams believes she will help save the world.

“She was such a bright and shining young lady when she came in on her visit and she was so excited to be here," Williams said. "And now to see this woman that she’s grown into right before my eyes -- as a coach, these are the moments that really make the job worth it.”

White plans to get her doctorate in environmental engineering and is continuing her research with NOAA’s Center for Coastal Marine Ecosystems.

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