Page 5 - Sep 2022 Market Edge Final_Neat

Meet the 2022 FOWA
Scholarship Winners
Shane Wever, 2022 FOWA Scholar create his own secondary degree titled Conservation through Media.
Yuvraj Khamare, 2022 FOWA
Shane Wever is a marine biologist and graduate research assistant in
the Coral Reef Restoration, Assessment, and Monitoring Lab at Nova
Southeastern University. His research focuses on long term monitoring
of coral reefs and assessing methods to optimize the restoration of coral
populations in southeast Florida. He is currently in his last semester of
graduate school, working on a thesis that investigates the stabilization and
restoration of coral reefs severely impacted by ship groundings. Shane
obtained a bachelor’s degree in marine science from Bowling Green State
University where he had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia,
obtain his divemaster and lead coral restoration work in Curacao, and
Shane uses his photography, videography and writing skills to curate
his labs social media where he posts updates on their research, using
descriptive and digestible language to educate viewers about Florida’s
marine life and new science. Upon graduation, Shane plans to use his
vast knowledge of coral restoration, archives of media and nearly 1,000
dives worth of experience to create educational and awe-inspiring content
that will encourage conservation through inspiration, rather than demand
it through social condemnation.
Yuvraj Khamare is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Environmental
Horticulture at the University of Florida. His study is mainly focused on
weed science and its management in container-grown ornamental
plants. In addition, he is also working on a minor in agronomy. Through
his passion for plants, he learned about ornamental weed management
issues and the various problems that nursery and greenhouse growers
face with weeds. This environmental and industry-wide epidemic caught
his attention, prompting him to further his career in weed management
for ornamentals and nursery crops. The goal of his research is to find
effective, economical, and environmentally friendly weed management
options for growers and landscape professionals.
Yuvraj is also an aspiring garden writer with a focus on chemical-free weed
management for home gardeners. He has published several extension
papers on weed identification and management for the University of Florida
extension website. After his graduation, he plans to work as a successful
weed scientist with an agrochemical company or in academia, helping
to find and develop new methods of weed management. He intends to
implement his passion for educating and communicating with the public
in his professional career. Yuvraj hopes to elucidate the often-murky topic
of weed management, helping the public to become more competent in
the uses and management of weeds in their gardens, small farms, and
landscapes.