To avoid sinking during his storied 1608 exploration of the Chesapeake Bay, Captain John Smith maneuvered his ships around jagged reefs composed of billions of oysters that had long nourished the region’s native population. When writer Chris Carroll sailed the bay in 2022 with University of Maryland researchers and local watermen alike, there was no such risk, and no similar bounty of the bivalve mollusks. Carroll’s story colorfully recounts the century-long destruction of the Chesapeake’s oyster beds, driven by ignorance, greed and disease—not to mention pirates. It also offers a firsthand look in the present day at how a UMD-led team of engineers, computer scientists and aquaculture experts convened to modernize oyster farming through robotics and artificial intelligence, aiming to restore the fortunes of the species and rebuild its culinary popularity.
From the Judges
This piece has a great mix of history, quotes, and science. It flows incredibly well which speaks to the quality of the writing and editing. The details show they know and understand their target audience.
