Carlyn Scott, College of Marine Science
Orion Schomber is soon to be a graduate of the College of Marine Science, where she studied ice core records of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, one of the largest ice shelves in Antarctica, which made headlines by producing an iceberg the size of Delaware. A Von Rosenstiel awardee, Schomber used her time in the lab of Brad Rosenheim to research how atmospheric processes during the Holocene period are reflected within ice cores from ice shelves that are vulnerable to warming.
Schomber earned her undergraduate degree in geology at Pacific Lutheran University and decided to travel across the country to pursue her graduate degree at the University of South Florida due to the interdisciplinary field work opportunities afforded by the USF College of Marine Science. Outside of graduate school, Schomber is an accomplished percussionist and has combined her love of science and music in a unique way to bring her research to life. Here, Schomber reflects on her time at the college and how she shares her knowledge of marine science with the community.
Q: What made you choose marine science?
A: My introduction to marine science was an oceanography class during my first year of undergraduate. There was something about the difficulty and creativity necessary to explore the ocean that immediately piqued my interest. From there, my intrigue grew nearly daily. Once I started thinking about graduate schools, marine science was a no-brainer.
Q: What about your field is exciting to you?
A: For me, the uncertainties are the most exciting aspect of geological oceanography and marine science. I think most people like to talk and think in finites due to the comfort that comes with certainty. However, there are so many uncertainties and questions about the ocean.
Through my research I found that the more we learn about ocean impacts and interactions, the more questions arise. The constant appearance of new questions can absolutely be vexing at times (especially when you are attempting to finish your primary research), but it can also be refreshing. I know that my research, although it may not be crucial to everyone鈥檚 daily life, contributes something new to the field and starts to tackle uncertainties about our marine system.
Q: How has your time at the college positively impacted your life and career?
A: The college has granted me several different opportunities to both accelerate my career goals and help the local community. I was a part of the college鈥檚 Marine Science Advisory Council, which allowed me to make a positive impact on the direction of the college. I was able to participate in outreach efforts such as the and the Spoonbill Bowl, where I was able to work with the community.
Orion Schomber graduated with her master鈥檚 degree in 2025 from the College of Marine Science where she studied geological oceanography.
Beyond this, being a part of the College of Marine Science connected me with people like Dr. Teresa Greely, who encouraged me to continue expanding upon my science communication skills by participating in the Oceanography Camp Especially for Girls as a mentor, as well as working as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Oceanography. I was able to update several different geological components of camp and class, streamlining activities and bridge the gap between geological concepts and oceanography.
Q: Can you tell me a little about how you incorporated your musical background with your research?
A: Before coming to the college, I was heavily involved in music as a classically trained percussionist. Although music and marine science do not appear similar, the practicing regiment I developed through music helped when learning new concepts for research.
Additionally, my research and time at the College of Marine Science has prompted additional ways to use music for science communication. I composed a percussion ensemble piece to help communicate environmental concerns to the public.
Since completing my thesis, I started working on a new piece, translating various ice dynamics (and unknowns in ice shelf interactions) into music. My goal in my compositions is to start a discussion and connect complex topics to a broader audience. Hopefully in doing this, I can further science communication, especially with complicated oceanographic concepts.