Black abalone Haliotis cracherodii, and the physiological affects of Withering syndrome

What it is doing outside, is basically happening in my sinuses right now.

Tomorrow I give my thesis to the Fishery Department. I feel kind of nostalgic and bittersweet about it. The faculty and staff, with a few exceptions, have been great to work with over the past 4+ years, and some I will genuinely miss, despite the department's overwhelming love for salmon and whales. Which is funny considering those faculty I admire most have nothing to do with either.

I find it interesting how detached from my pure marine biology intentions I have become over the past few years. From that seminal class of Patrick Christie's that introduced me to the idea of science for humanity's sake rather than science for science's sake, (which is very similar yet in opposition to the art for art's sake debate coming from my sister's side of academia) I have had a hard time relating to the importance of issues like withering syndrome in abalone and the invasive tunicates of my internship.

I have a difficult time separating myself between issues that are dreams and perhaps out of my logistical reach, and those that while are within my designated field and realm of familiarity, but with little passion.