“In the Seagrass Meadows” follows University of California, Davis marine science researchers for a day of fieldwork along Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing. Field sites in the region have been integral to the study of seagrass meadows, ecologically important ecosystems that have a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of ocean acidification. The purpose of the piece was to illuminate the often unseen work that goes into research, the day-to-day tasks that lead to revolutionary research findings. Science writer Greg Watry spent the afternoon and evening with the researchers, documenting their day as they traveled from site to site. The article, written for a lay audience, emphasizes the important work that graduate students, who are also often unseen, contribute to an institution’s research. The resulting article, produced by the UC Davis College of Letters and Science, was syndicated and shared across UC Davis’s channels.
From the Judges
We found it to be a strong piece of writing. The writer transformed what could have been a dry science story into a vivid narrative—capturing the pull of the water, the researchers’ excitement, and the surrounding natural beauty. It was also impressive that one person both wrote and photographed the story.
