TOMS RIVER — Save Barnegat Bay has selected student researcher Tia Thomas as the 2026 recipient of its Best in Barnegat Bay award at the Jersey Shore Science Fair.
The environmental group said the annual honor recognizes a student whose project demonstrates strong scientific research and shows promise for helping Barnegat Bay, along with the people and wildlife connected to it.
Thomas earned the award for her study on ways to support oyster shell calcification under conditions caused by ocean acidification. Save Barnegat Bay said the project stood out for both its scientific merit and its potential real-world value.
Although the research focused on broader ocean conditions, the group said the findings could have important implications closer to home by supporting the health of oysters in Barnegat Bay and benefiting the region’s shellfishing industry.
Save Barnegat Bay praised Thomas for work it said could contribute to understanding how to protect a key part of the local ecosystem.
