Freshman, Emerson Morris, Shares Research With Biloxi Mayor

Biloxi, MISS — St. Patrick freshman, Emerson Morris, took advantage of the opportunity to speak at Biloxi’s City Council meeting on Tuesday concerning the Bonne Carré Spillway. Morris is currently doing independent research on the effects of the Bonnet Carré Spillway on the Gulf of Mexico. According to her research, Morris found that our gulf waters had a direct impact on the algae bloom.

Morris asked the city council for their support of certain projects being implemented by Mayor Fofo Gilich ND ’65 and former Biloxi Mayor Gerald Blessey. According to Morris’ research, these projects would lessen the impact of algae blooms occurring in the future and protect the economic, environmental, and recreational interests of the Mississippi Sound.

“I contacted Cecilia Dobbs-Walton, who works for the city of Biloxi, about my research on a type of bacteria called Microcystis,” said Morris, who is working on the research in her Biology I class. Dobbs-Walton would later invite her to speak to city leaders on her research.

Morris will use her research as part of a project at the Mississippi Regional Science and Engineering Fair later this year. Hopefully, her research can help to heal our Mississippi Sound recover from the algae bloom.

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St. Patrick Catholic High School is a faith-based, college preparatory high school in Biloxi, Mississippi and named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2019. Established in 2007, St. Patrick is the premier secondary educational institution in South Mississippi and strives each day to Educate Scholars, Train Disciples, and Support Champions. St. Patrick is proud to report a 100% college matriculation rate, ACT and SAT scores that far exceed the state and national averages, and a rich history of Catholic education founded in the traditional roots of our legacy schools of St. John High School, Mercy Cross High School, Notre Dame High School, and Sacred Heart Academy.