Submitted PhotoValdosta State University students at Bahia Honda State Park, located in Big Pine Key, Fla. 

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University students spent nine days in the Florida Keys camping in tents and working on a coral restoration project, as well as some other side projects. 

The group of chemistry and biology majors completed a range of projects from constructing and deploying a underwater, remote-operated vehicle to making novel structures that can be used as surfaces for the colonization and growth of wild corals, according to a VSU press release.

A significant portion of the project involves the students drafting a patent application related to the material being developed at VSU for wild coral restoration. 

Participants included Matthew L. Cowan, Domonique S. Arrington, Sarah E. Godfrey, Drew A. Johnson, Jeremiah K. Jones, Amber R. Lowery, Robert S. Murphy, Pavan D. Patel, Shannon M. Pendleton, Daniel W. Pinyan, Joanna H. Thomas, Devante D. Smedley, Erin Manning, Laquetta Wysong, Megan D. Slater, Weldon C. Lane, Garett C. Crook, Sean Thomas, Schuyler D. Vickers, Richard D. Williams, Graham Nguyen, Beth Tate, Jeremy Everidge and Tom Manning.