The Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helped fund Karen Carvajal's trip to the XXI International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. At the event Karen received third place for her poster presentation on "Effects of fish meal replacement with insect meals (Hermetia illucens and Acheta domesticus) on growth performance, digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, and fatty acid profile of juvenile Totoaba macdonaldi".
The biennial event gathers attendees with key topics promoting the advancement in the science of nutrition and feeding of aquatic animals and encouraging innovation for the world’s growing aquaculture industries that are looking for new opportunities in a blue-green economy.
"My participation in ISFNF 2024 was a highly enriching experience," said Karen. "It was amazing to have the opportunity to meet in person so many scientists whom I have cited numerous times in my work and to establish contact with them. It was also rewarding to connect with outstanding students who are contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field of aquaculture nutrition. I believe that the conference provided all participants from 37 countries with a broad perspective on the advances being made worldwide in this field, as well as future prospects. We returned to our respective institutions loaded with new ideas for future projects. I was pleasantly surprised by the massive participation of many industries committed to producing high-nutritional-value balanced foods made from the most sustainable ingredients possible. I loved witnessing the close interaction between academia and industry in formulating new diets. I want to express my gratitude to the Bailey-Niblett Family, the Martindale lab, and the Leonardo-Ibarra lab for all the support provided to make my participation in this conference possible. I am very pleased to have been able to share my research and to have obtained third place in the conference's best poster presentation."
Karen is Ph.D. student in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and a Fulbright Scholar in the Ibarra-Castro Lab at Whitney Laboratory. The Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment assists in funding for research projects and travel for graduate students, postdoctoral research associates and pre-tenured faculty at the Whitney Laboratory. Thank you to the Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment for providing funding for this opportunity!