Category Archives: Outreach

School Visit to Cape Town’s Sophumelela Secondary School Introduces Ocean Currents to Students

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Thanks to the efforts of Juliet Hermes and Thomas Mtontsi of the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Drs. Meghan Cronin (NOAA) and I visited Mr. Ndemane’s science class at Sophumelela Secondary School in the township of Phillipi on the Cape Flats outside of Cape Town, South Africa this past October 2012.

During the presentation we introduced ocean currents to the learners, in particular the Agulhas Current, and discussed their impact on sea surface temperature (SST) and climate. I annotated ocean currents on blow-up globes to donate to the students as fun learning tools.

The high school students were clearly engaged and one learner stood up and thanked us for meeting with them and encouraging them to be scientists. Another learner from the SAEON program came up afterwards to ask for advice on a science fair project on climate change.

The class is involved in the NOAA Adopt A Drifter program (ADP), whereby three pairs of drifters were deployed in the Agulhas Current. Data from these drifters contribute to the NOAA Global Drifter Program (GDP), a component of the Global Ocean Observing System, and can be viewed at http://www.adp.noaa.gov/track_drifting_buoys.html.

I hope to see these learners again next February, when they have been invited to visit the R/V Knorr while she is in Cape Town, on the way to the final scientific cruise of the Agulhas Current Time-series experiment.

IMG_9044Lisa Beal, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and Principal Investigator of the Agulhas Current Time-series experiment http://act.rsmas.miami.edu/


7 Tips to Hurricane Proof Your Vacation

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How To Make Your Vacation Hurricane Proof

You just booked your dream vacation to the sunny beaches of Miami and the only thing on your mind was how not to look like a lobster or a raccoon from all the fun in the sun. Unfortunately, you forgot about the hurricane season (runs between June 1st and November 30th) and just your luck, there’s a hurricane on the horizon! Don’t agonize over the hurricane and cancel your trip. Instead, be assertive with your trip, make some slight adjustments and start having a great time on your vacation. We prepared some good weather strategies to help combat the storm and try to get you back to relaxing!

Tip #1: Know What’s Going On

Being on top of the storm and knowing what the hurricane is doing. Some great websites and apps include the Weather Channel, National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov), and Hurricane Software app. With the Hurricane Software app, you will be able to see the latest coordinates, the actual distance from your location to the storms location in miles, satellite images and much more.

Tip #2: Buy Travel Insurance!

Protecting your vacation is the last thing on your mind and purchasing a trip cancellation protection package will safeguard your investment and your wallet. Companies like insuremytrip.com will compare travel insurance policies from 20 different issuers and breakdown the cost and coverage’s of all the carriers. Most important thing is to buy the travel insurance early. The policies only work if you buy it before the hurricane disturbs your trip, not during or after. Two most popular insurers are American Express Travel Insurance and Global Alert.

Tip #3: Go On A Cruise Ship

This is an automatic hurricane free vacation! Cruise ships have to protect their passenger’s safety and well-being. Cruise lines will change ports, routes and the ships itinerary in order to avoid the hurricane. The waters might be a little bit more choppy than normal but the ships are designed to take the force of a category 3 hurricane. Check out orbitz.com, kayak.com and cruiseweb.com for the best deals on booking your ship-cation.

Tip #4: Travel Outside The Hurricane Belt!

Statistically, there are parts of the Caribbean that have a low probability of being hit or even experiencing the bad weather associated with the hurricane. The ABC islands are a great example of that statistic. Made up of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, these three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. Since 1877, Aruba has only had a few hurricanes and only six have passed within 62 miles of the island. I will take those odds any day and enjoy a Mai-tai on the beach!

Tip #5: Airline’s Hurricane Policy

Airline companies are usually a hassle to deal with but when it comes to natural causes, they usually are accommodating for the most part. American Airlines and Delta will actually let you change your flight plans without penalty if you rebook within the time frame the airline designates.

Tip #6: Find a Hotel With Weather Guarantee

More and more hotel chains and single hotels are offering incentives to book at their hotel during hurricanes or tropical storms. Some hotels will offer free room upgrades, 40% off room rate and waive the resort fee. Even if they don’t advertise these deals, ask the front desk or concierge and explain to them that your vacation was ruined and want to see if there was any hotel upgrades to help improve your experience while staying at the hotel.

Tip #7: Be Prepared

Besides taking shelter and getting out of harms way, we tend to forget the essentials until they are finally needed or it’s too late. For example, if you have a rental car, make sure you have plenty of gas; this will avoid long lines or worse case if the power goes, no gas at all. Stock up on water and food supply for three days. Take out extra money from your bank or ATM, again, if the transformers get blown and there’s no power, extra cash becomes more valuable than gold.

Keep in mind that these are just tips and options to help with your vacation. Since we can’t control the weather, the best thing to do is to prepare for the unexpected, be safe and seek shelter at all cost. Hopefully these strategies will help your dream vacation from becoming a nightmare!

William Lester
www.TheRewardsGuy.com

Set Sail With Pangea Exploration

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Pangaea Exploration is a Miami-based marine conservation organization, sailing the world to advance exploration, education, and conservation. Last week, Emily Penn, Program Director of Pangaea Exploration, gave a passionate and informative presentation to faculty and students at the Rosenstiel School. If you missed the presentation, don’t worry. It’s not too late to get involved!

Pangaea Exploration operates a 72ft sailing vessel, Sea Dragon, and coordinates expeditions to carry out scientific research and filmmaking around the world. They have spent the past 2 years sailing 50,000nm, researching plastic pollution, ocean acidification and coral health. They provide a platform for scientists to collect the necessary samples to conserve the marine ecosystems.

The Sea Dragon partners with researchers to collect important scientific observations, but also dedicates space on the ship to citizen scientists. The Pangaea crew teamed up with 5Gyres and spent a large portion of the past year collecting and studying marine debris in the North Pacific, specifically mapping the tsunami debris from Japan. They also worked with Woods Hole Oceanographic to collect water samples along the equator in the Pacific Ocean.

In spring 2013, they are coming to the Caribbean and Miami. Here is how YOU can get involved:

- Be the lead scientist on a cruise. All expenses paid for you, but you take on the responsibility of coordinating the activities of the citizen scientists who will help you collect your data.

- Pay your way either as a scientists going to collect your own data or as a citizen scientist.

- Send your sampling materials with the crew and ask them to collect the samples on your behalf.

- Intern for Pangaea Exploration here in Miami (with the chance to go on the ship for one of the legs).

Contact: Alex@panexplore.com

For more information, check out their website: panexplore.com.

-Laura Bracken
Outreach Manager
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IGFA Displays Art Exhibit, “Glorification of the Dead,” by Univ. of Miami Student

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The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum has welcomed a 17-piece art exhibit by Rosenstiel School student Akihiro Shiroza titled, “Glorification of the Dead.” Shiroza found inspiration for his artwork during his interaction, on a quotidian basis, with dead specimens and reflection on his role as a larval fish collector and taxonomist.

Using scientifically collected larval samples he “glorifies” them through cleaning rituals, chemical processes, and digital techniques. Shiroza has identified about 200,000 larval fish (approximately 2mm – 20mm in total length) over the last three years, before magnifying the super-macro photographs up to 200 times to the size of their mature bodies to complete the final product.

“I take my time to clean the specimens, and free them from dust and other foreign objects attached to their surface, as an act of respect to the deceased before their last judgment in the Big Book of Records,” says Shiroza.

Shiroza is a larval fish taxonomist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). He will be receiving his Master of Professional Science Degree from the Rosenstiel School’s division of Marine Biology & Fisheries later this year, and is also the founder of the
Studio El Condor – an art studio.

“Glorification of the Dead” will also be on display during the 37th Annual Larval Fish Conference next June in Miami. Read more about this unique art exhibit here.

What do you think of Akihiro’s work? Leave a comment below.

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Univ. of Miami Community Participates Globally During the International Coastal Clean Up

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Saturday, September 15th, was the 2012 International Coastal Clean Up, organized by the Ocean Conservancy (and locally by the Robert Allen Law Firm). University of Miami faculty, staff, and students participated by cleaning up their little pieces of paradise and teaching children about the importance of a clean ocean.

The RSMAS community cleaned the University’s Virginia Key beach. We had over 20 people participate and together they picked up hundreds of pieces of plastic and Styrofoam, over 100 bottles and cans, close to 100 straws, 15 articles of clothing, a battery, fireworks, and much more! By noon, the dumpster was full and our beach was clean (at least temporarily).

Three current UM students (Nate Formel, Kelly Montenero, and Virginia Ansaldi) and one RSMAS alumna (Danni Washington, Big Blue & You Foundation) partnered with Greg Anderson and the City of Miami to bring 15 children to clean up a local barrier island. They taught the students about the native ecosystem and why it is important to keep Biscayne Bay clean, and then eagerly picked up a huge amount of trash!

UM Biology students who are spending the Fall 2012 semester at the Isabela Oceanographic Institute in the Galapagos Islands cleaned the coast of Puerto Villamil, their home for the next few months. They teamed up with local residents to ensure that their beaches, mangroves, and wetlands were trash-free.

How did you participate in the International Coastal Clean Up?

-Laura Bracken
Outreach Manager
Follow the Rosenstiel School on Twitter: @UMiamiRSMAS
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Clap Your Hands for Sharks

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How many of you are having Shark Week withdrawal? I know I am. It is true that Shark Week doesn’t always have themes of education or conservation in mind (insert mental image of a hydraulic-powered Megalodon biting kegs in half from this years lineup). But despite this, there is obvious value in making ocean science cool for the masses, even if only for one week a year. But alas, Shark Week has come and gone and we are left with a year of waiting before our television screens light up with that hypnotic blue that only the ocean can deliver.

If you find yourself reeling in despair over this, fear not, the sharks are coming! Next week a group of RSMAS graduate students from Waterlust will be releasing a video that delivers sharks, sharks, and more sharks. Created by Ph.D candidate and R.J Dunlap shark guru Austin Gallagher, Coastguards explores how childhood fears can evolve into fascination of arguably the most misunderstood animal on the planet. Always at the forefront of social media technology, Waterlust has teamed up with a New York based startup called Thunderclap to add some spice to the release of the short film. What is a Thunderclap you ask? More than just an information sharing service, a Thunderclap allows users to coordinate the release of a certain message (in this case a video release) by a large group simultaneously – essentially sending a shockwave of awesomeness through the interwebs.

Will this strategy of crowdspeaking allow groups like Waterlust to get their content to more people? Find out next Wednesday, September 12 at High Noon when Coastguards goes public.

Join the Thunderclap here.

Patrick Rynne
Waterlust Founder/AMP Graduate Student
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