RYCE HAILES COMES FULL CIRCLE AT TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
August 2, 2024
Meet Ryce Hailes, a former SeaCamper and AquaTeen at Texas State Aquarium, who is currently an undergraduate researcher with the Coral Reef and Ocean Health lab at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
A Biology major concentrating in Ecology, Hailes is currently studying the effects of climate change within the ocean’s coral reef systems. Prior to this opportunity, Hailes was working alongside Dr. Shawn McCracken, studying climate change and the movement of birds in Ecuador.
It all started with curiosity. “I remember in kindergarten when I first learned about roots; we pulled up a tree and I got to see the roots and everything in there”, says Hailes. “That is one of the first things I remember. I really liked science.” At age eight, she attended Texas State Aquarium’s SeaCamp, where she was introduced to the various habitats within the Coastal Bend. SeaCamp is also where she learned about the many career paths she could follow within science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) industries. Continuing with the AquaTeen program, now the AquaTeen Academy, from 9th to 12th grade, she helped with the SeaCamp and with the Fish and Herpetology Department, and even landed the title of AquaTeen of the Year. Hailes mentions, “I had amazing mentors who fostered my love for sea turtles and taught me an innumerable amount about going into the STEM field. Because of these programs, I chose to major in biology to continue to expand my knowledge and love for the natural world.” Her experiences with the SeaCamp and AquaTeen Academy laid the foundation for her current position with the Bahr Lab, feeding a deep-seated passion that still burns brightly.
Hailes always knew she wanted to work with animals, but didn’t know to what capacity, as she didn’t know her options other than becoming a veterinarian. SeaCamp and AquaTeens Academy opened a variety of career possibilities.
As a SeaCamper, Hailes’ personality blossomed as she found herself around people with like-minded interests. While at the AquaTeen Academy as a guest host and as an exhibit docent, it was interacting with visitors during her internship at the Aquarium where she discovered the valuable skill of communication. Because science jargon doesn’t come naturally to most people, scientists must know their line of work well to communicate their message with the public to bring awareness to the forefront.
She encourages everybody to enter secondary education seeking a mentor to help through the undergraduate process, here, students will see exponential growth through mentorship. A large part of her growth as a scientist was taking lab classes right away, giving her time to gain an understanding of the research process.
A decade ago, Ryan Drum worked as an Aquarist in the Fish and Herpetology Department at Texas State Aquarium. During that time, Hailes worked alongside him and followed his guide, and at times he would allow her to work independently with the sea turtles. Hailes recalls, “He (Drum) really let me go independently, and that made me realize I can do this, I can be a scientist, I can be an Aquarist, I can take care of these endangered species. It really built my confidence because I knew someone put confidence in me, and it really helped me develop to be confident in the skills that I have.” He not only inspired her to continue for her marine biology degree, he also inspired her to continue studying creatures that don’t receive a lot of attention.
The biggest reward has been all the people that she’s had the privilege to encounter, from her first mentor at the Aquarium and the Aquarium community, to Dr. Keisha Bahr and Dr. Sean McCracken. These people have really inspired Hailes and have helped her see the growth in herself. Ryce Hailes has a bit of advice for the next generation of curious, science lovers…don’t be afraid to ask questions. She feels like she left some information behind because she was afraid to ask some of the questions on her mind. Hailes reminds readers, “Don’t be afraid to jump in whenever people ask you to do things. Don’t be afraid to go feed the frogs or sea turtles by yourself. Don’t be afraid to just come into this experience knowing that you know nothing and that you’re here to learn. Be open to learning more.”
Hailes’ goal is to kickstart a non-governmental organization (NGO), or to become a Principal Investigator (PI), or perhaps a mix of both. She plans to take the knowledge gained from working with the Harte Research Institute as well as the experience gained from her time at the Aquarium, to make an impact on the world and help curb the effects of climate change.