The Department of Marine Sciences is collaborating with The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh on Saturday, November 3rd from 9am-5pm in an event called “Marine Mammal Day.” Although there will be discussion of polar bears and whales at the event, the primary focus is on climate change. The MASC grad students have created activities, demonstrations and videos that will be displayed at tables stationed throughout the museum that will engage children, teens, and adults of all ages. Oceanographic topic covered will include the Arctic food web, effects of climate change on coral reefs, importance of oyster reefs, phytoplankton physiology, oil spills, hydrothermal vents, sea level rise in NC, and fluid dynamics! Since the museum is expecting close to 3,000 visitors, this is a perfect opportunity for us to share the research conducted in our department with the local community.

In addition to the activities and demonstrations led by the grad students, four of our very own faculty will be giving presentations:

Joel Fodrie (IMS) - Ecology you can eat!  Natural history and climate response of oyster reef habitats in North Carolina
Harvey Seim (UNC-CH) - Update on wind power potential offshore of NC
Chris Martens (UNC-CH) - Living underwater in a Florida Keys coral reef
Brent McKee (UNC-CH) -  Global change, local impacts: The North Carolina coast 

Admission is free, please come join us at The Museum of Natural Sciences and spend the day learning about climate change and our ocean! Learn more about the event here: http://naturalsciences.org/programs-events/marine-mammal-day-0