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UMW Student Earns Esteemed Goldwater Scholarship for Marine Study

At 12 years old, Edmund “Ned” Gable plunged into a tidepool at the Monterey Bay Aquarium during a visit to California. Surrounded by a parade of starfish, grouper and wolf eel, he was captivated by the underwater world.

Almost a decade later, that early fascination with marine life hasn’t faded. Now a junior at the University of Mary Washington, Gable’s ocean and environmental research has earned him a Barry Goldwater Scholarship – one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. The scholarship was created in honor of late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, who had an interest in science and technology.

“Ned epitomizes the ideals of the Goldwater Foundation,” said Professor of Chemistry Kelli Slunt, who directs the UMW Honors Program, of which Gable is a member. “His strong commitment to a research career, intellectual intensity and potential for significant future contributions to research make him well deserving of this recognition.”

Only 443 students received awards from a pool of more than 5,000 nominees from hundreds of academic institutions in the United States, according to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation. Gable joins a distinguished line of recent Goldwater Scholars from Mary Washington, including Abby Swanson ’24 and Henry Mills ’22.

An environmental science and chemistry double major, Gable has already built a deep research portfolio. While studying abroad in Panama in 2024, he designed an independent study examining how boat traffic affects seagrass and biodiversity. The following summer, he interned in the same region, scuba diving twice daily to survey coral, fish and sponge populations. Last spring, he joined UMW’s coral conservation study abroad program in Bonaire to examine the dangers of ocean warming.

“Having the opportunity to scuba dive around the globe has had a profound influence on my perception of ecosystem health and my drive for research,” said Gable, who hails from Richmond, Virginia. “These firsthand experiences have given me insight into what constitutes a healthy and diverse ecosystem, and the different ways I may be able to help.”

Back at UMW, Gable has investigated contamination in fish, water and sediment in the Potomac River, presenting his findings at the North American Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual meeting in Scotland. He currently works in the research lab at Mary Washington’s Jepson Science Center with Associate Professor of Geology Pamela Grothe ’06, analyzing coral fossil biogeochemistry. This summer he’ll intern with NOAA at its Narragansett Laboratory in Rhode Island, using computational models to study how plankton and other ocean nutrients move through the Northwest Atlantic.

“Ned is deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in marine conservation and climate research,” Grothe said. “He brings a level of focus and independence to his work that is uncommon at the undergraduate level.”

In her lab, where students analyze coral geochemistry to reconstruct past climate conditions, Grothe says Gable has been invaluable, quickly mastering complex analytical techniques and independently engaging with scientific literature to solve problems.

“I’m excited to keep growing through research and internships while pursuing advanced coursework in chemistry, environmental science and ecology,” Gable said. “I also hope to build my skills in scuba diving, GIS and computer programming to help tackle major issues like climate change, chemical pollution and ecosystem loss.”