When the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster occurred along the Gulf Coast two years ago, ecologists at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg wanted to dig deep to study the impacts.

Researchers have spent most of their time at test sites like Lake Thoreau Environmental Center in the city, but the Oil Spill opened up a different eco-system to research, along with a new set of challenges.

Dr. Sarah Morgan, associate professor in the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation that will be used in her continuing solar cells research.

Morgan’s grant is part of $270,000 awarded by the foundation in research grants for sustainability programs. Other schools receiving grants include Georgia Institute of Technology, Auburn University and Arizona State University.

The Pinewoods Audubon Society is sponsoring/presenting an Introduction to Bird Watching Class at the Oak Grove Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays:

• Jan. 12
• Jan. 26
• Feb. 02
• Feb. 09 

five part class. 

The fifth meeting will be on Feb. 16 at the PWAS Window Watch (Part of the Great Backyard Bird Count). 

This class will be a basic introduction to birding, and is offered to the general public for free, though registration is required.