RSMAS Professor, Dr. Will Drennan, talks hurricanes with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.
On Friday, July 13th, the Rosenstiel School was lucky enough to be visited by 25 students from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind transition program and 5 of their mentors. The group was eager to learn about marine and atmospheric science research through sound and touch.
PhD student Erica Staaterman kicked off the day with an amazing presentation about ocean sounds. She played sound clips while explaining how animals communicate underwater and how we might be able to calculate the health of coral reefs by assessing the ambient clatter. Do you know what animal is making this noise? Click here to listen
Professor Will Drennan and his assistant, undergraduate student Katie Dziedzic, explained how hurricanes are studied on land, in the air, and by sea. The students listened to the sound of Category 4 forced winds tearing off the roof of a gas station, touched some of the equipment used on the EASI and ASIS buoys for collecting in situ hurricane data, and listened intently as Dr. Drennan told stories of flying in the hurricane hunter aircrafts.
Visiting the Aplysia facility.
The last stop on the tour was the Aplysia hatchery where the students got up close and personal with some fascinating marine animals. They touched coral skeletons and sea urchins tests, as well as live sea cucumbers, sea stars, conch, and of course aplysia!
“It was definitely a memorable experience for our students. Thank you for being so accommodating!” said Emily Nostro, Transition Program Coordinator at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, at the end of this amazing day.
-Laura Bracken
Outreach Manager
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