Ongoing ecological events, such as new and emerging diseases, provide an important platform for education and research. Field courses and undergraduate research projects can be critical to assisting students with learning scientific skills and career discernment as these experiences provide more one-on-one instruction and an immersive learning environment. A novel coral disease called “Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease” (SCTLD) provided one such opportunity. SCTLD is characterized by rapid progression with entire coral heads dying within 2-3 weeks after initial observation of the onset of symptoms. At a wider geographic scale, the disease has migrated with extreme velocity and has now been documented across the Caribbean from as far North as the Southeast Florida Reef Tract, as far South as St. Lucia, and as far West as Honduras and Belize. Here, I summarize what is currently known about SCTLD and document an educational field course that involved eight undergraduate students with visits to multiple locations along the Florida Keys Reef Tract during the disease progression in March 2019. Students were able to observe sites where SCTLD had been present for over two years and sites where the disease was only just emerging for observational comparison. Student educational outcomes from field trips and activities will be discussed. Current research and educational activities can interact to enhance each other, creating a positive feedback loop. Future directions for research, educational opportunities, and their interaction to accelerate understanding of this novel disease are discussed.

中文翻译：

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教育与研究：共生以更好地了解新型珊瑚病

不断发生的生态事件，例如新出现的疾病和疾病，为教育和研究提供了重要的平台。实地课程和本科生研究项目对于帮助学生学习科学技能和职业识别至关重要，因为这些经验提供了更多的一对一指导和身临其境的学习环境。这样的机会就是一种名为“石质珊瑚组织流失病”（SCTLD）的新型珊瑚病。SCTLD的特征是快速进展，在初步观察到症状发作后的2-3周内整个珊瑚头死亡。在更广泛的地理范围内，该疾病以极快的速度迁移，现已记录在整个加勒比海地区，从北至佛罗里达东南珊瑚礁地区，再至南至圣卢西亚，再至西至洪都拉斯和伯利兹。这里，我总结了目前对SCTLD的了解，并记录了一个教育领域课程，该课程涉及8名本科生，在2019年3月疾病进展期间访问了佛罗里达礁礁带的多个地点。学生们能够观察到SCTLD曾存在的地点，在过去两年的时间里，该病只是为了观察比较而刚刚出现的地方。将讨论实地考察和活动对学生的教育成果。当前的研究和教育活动可以相互作用以相互促进，从而形成积极的反馈循环。讨论了研究的未来方向，教育机会以及它们之间的相互作用，以加快对这种新型疾病的了解。