SMITHSONIAN HOSTS MORNING MARINE SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES AT AQUARIUM
FORT PIERCE – Want to learn about local marine science and meet like-minded community members in the New Year? The Smithsonian Marine Station invites area residents to enjoy a series of six lectures presented by local marine scientists this January through March. This Wednesday morning lecture series is hosted by the Smithsonian Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. The bi-weekly series provides an opportunity for members of the community to hear from and speak with scientists in various fields within marine science. Lectures begin at 9 a.m. at the St. Lucie County Aquarium and will last until approximately 10 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided starting at 8:30 a.m.
The lectures focus on current topics, including:
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Caribbean Cooking: Impacts of warming coastal waters on coral reefs of the Florida Keys and beyond with Paul R. Jones, PhD of University of Miami CIMAS – NOAA/AOML
Wednesday, Jan. 24
FWC Marine Mammal Program (and manatees!) with Rachel Kaplan of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Risk of Lethal Injury to Manatees Given Vessel Speed — a Bayesian approach with Brittany Combs of University of South Florida College of Marine Science
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Sharks and Rays of the Indian River Lagoon with Michael McCallister of FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Wednesday, March 7
Of Peanut Worms and Plankton: Life histories research at the Smithsonian Marine Station with Michael Boyle of the Smithsonian Marine Station
Wednesday, March 21
Hot Weather and Hot Nests Trouble Turtles with Jeanette Wyneken of Florida Atlantic University
Advance registration is required as space is limited. Sign up for just one or join us for the full series! Lectures are free with paid aquarium admission ($3 for seniors 55+, $4 for adults). One-year memberships, which include free admission, are available starting at just $15. Please contact the Education Office at 772-465-3271 for further questions or to reserve your seat today!
The Smithsonian Exhibit is located in the St. Lucie County Aquarium at 420 Seaway Drive on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. The Smithsonian Marine Station has teamed with St. Lucie County and other community partners to create this unique educational facility. The Exhibit is an outreach effort of the Smithsonian Marine Station, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fixture in the Fort Pierce community for over 40 years, the Marine Station is dedicated to understanding the character and diversity of the marine and estuarine habitats of Florida. For more information, visit www.sms.si.edu.
