Weekly News Digest from Mote

Winners Announced in “The Art of Marine Science” Featuring Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification — a serious threat to marine life and a complex puzzle for both research and public outreach — just got easier to understand thanks to a board game, comic books and an experiment kit and video for budding scientists.

These projects earned the highest scores Friday evening, April 19 during an invitation-only awards reception for “The Art of Marine Science,” a special exhibit created through a partnership between Mote Marine Laboratory and Ringling College of Art and Design. The public exhibit wrapped up on Tuesday, April 23 in The Aquarium at Mote.

The projects were created by Ringling students in a course taught by a Mote scientist and were designed to educate the public about ocean acidification, which is sometimes called the “osteoporosis of the sea.” It occurs when seawater becomes more acidic than before — a chemistry change in which its pH gets lower — because the water absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from manmade sources such as fossil fuels. More acidic water can dissolve or weaken the skeletons of coral reefs, the shells of many shellfish and other calcium-rich substances vital to marine life.

A total of seven projects by 19 Ringling students working in small groups were judged by a panel including Mote scientists and members of the local community.

Results:

• 1st Place: "Battle for the Reef" board game by students Soo Kang, Isabela Littger, Diem Tran and Anne Passchier

• 2nd Place:  "Future Oceanographers" ocean acidification experiment kit and video by students Rob Fehre, Christian Hansen, Lauren Huber, Nicole Paine and Alex Pitthan

• 3rd Place: "Ocean Acidification" comics by students Stefhan Alvarado, Jacob Breck and Mark Orzechowski

Saturday
Charlotte County YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day^®Aims to Help Kids Exercise Minds and Bodies

Event will include Mote Mobile exhibit from Mote Marine Laboratory

Tomorrow, April 27, the Charlotte County Family YMCA will celebrate YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day^® with a free community event that encourages kids in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and North Port to get moving and learning, and families living healthier. Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.

Healthy Kids Day will start at Charlotte Sports Park with games and activities along with Girls On The Run Spring 5K from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. To register, go to www.active.com (Keyword: 3^rd Girls).

The fun activities continue from 9 a.m. – noon at the Charlotte County Family YMCA’s Dotzler Outdoor Center located at 22801 Bayshore Drive, Port Charlotte. Activities include kayaking, archery, alpine tower climbing, healthy snacks and the Mote Mobile exhibit from Mote Marine Laboratory, which features live marine animals and educational displays.

From 9 a.m. – noon at YMCA’s Franz Ross Park, 19333 Quesada Ave. in Port Charlotte, guests can enjoy Kids Zumbatomic, a bounce house, face painting, Jeff the Juggler and a screech owl exhibit from Peace River Wildlife Center. From noon – 2 p.m. there will be a free swim at the North Port Family YMCA, 5930 Sam Shapos Way, North Port. No registration required – just show up and have fun!

For more information, contact Charlotte County Family YMCA at 941-629-2220 or visit www.charlottecountyymca.com and click on “Healthy Kids Day.”

• April 29: Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Strandings, Gretchen Lovewell, manager of Mote's Stranding Investigations Program
  
• May 9: Florida Red Tide: Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, manager of Mote’s Environmental Health Program

April 30
Mote's Science Café at the HuB: Corals on Acid
What is ocean acidification? How does it affect coral reefs, ocean animals and humans? What can we do about it? Join Dr. Emily Hall, manager of the Ocean Acidification Program at Mote Marine Laboratory, learn more during Mote’s next Science Café — a free discussion at 5:30 p.m. on April 30, hosted by the HuB at 1680 Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

RSVP required to secure your seat: http://hubsciencecafe.eventbrite.com

Dr. Emily Hall's research focuses on ocean acidification and its effects on corals, coral reef ecosystems and toxicity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) — including Karenia brevis, the organism that causes Florida red tide. Her research is designed to inform forecasting of ocean acidification effects.

Hall also focuses on public outreach and education; she is an adjunct professor at Ringling College of Art and Design, where she teaches "Ecology of Water" and has guided her students at Ringling in producing artworks to raise awareness about Florida red tide and ocean acidification.