Join Ambassador Lindsey Dougherty and a host of other scientific experts on this tiny Caribbean island 28 miles off the coast of St. Maarten. The entire month of October is filled with nightly presentations, field research projects, and nature surveys.
This is a great trip to bring the whole family on as it's kid-friendly and perfect for divers and non-divers alike. In addition to the scuba diving there are lots of shore based activities including fantastic hiking and plenty of relaxation!
Below are some highlights of the experts that will be attending this year:
- "DISCO NIGHT" - Dr. Lindsey Dougherty finished her post-doctoral research at the University of Colorado and is currently an instructor there. She holds a PhD in integrative biology from the University of California Berkeley. She was a scuba instructor in Zanzibar, has worked for multiple dive shops, writes popular science articles, and is an avid underwater photographer. She has over 3000 dives and is currently an AAUS scientific diver. Don’t miss diving with Lindsey, where she will instruct on surveying techniques and methods to identify varied bivalves—those interesting “hinged” animals found in crevices and along our dramatic wall dives: clams, scallops and more. Tent Wall is probably our most likely destination. She will be presenting on the event's opening night, October 1, to kick off the month!
- “SHARK WEEK IRL” – Chelsea Black is part of a team from the University of Miami Shark Research and Conservation Program (SRC) studying shark immunology with a focus on the micro organizations they host. Little is known about the normal microbiome of sharks within their natural environment as most microbiological study has been performed on captive species. Travelers can help Chelsea in her research by joining her on a dive expedition to swab some sharks and learn more about these microbes. She will also present on the event’s closing night, October 29, and discuss how this groundbreaking science that may lead to curing cancer and other health solutions for humans.
- “OIL & WATER DON’T MIX” - James Oris is an internationally renowned expert in environmental toxicology who was a member of the EPA’s Science Advisory Board and the National Academies of Science. He is currently a University Distinguished Professor and serves as Miami University’s chief research officer and Dean of the graduate school. Visitors can dive alongside James to analyze firsthand the effects oil spills have on the marine ecosystem in combination with UV light. He will also be discussing his in-depth research on this topic, including his involvement in the clean-up from the Exxon-Valdez and the Deepwater Horizon spills, on October 21, 2019.
- “SPONGE (JOE)” – Far from the Spongebob cartoon of pop culture, (Sponge) Joe Pawlik is a Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at University of North Carolina Wilmington and an expert on the ecology of sponges. He focuses on the Caribbean since the reefs there have a high abundance of sponges and they are all of the same species. Participants can join Joe on his field project dive to survey the sponge biodiversity, learn how a sponge filter-feeds, and even how to tell their age. He finds sponges interesting because so little is known about them, but he will answer many questions and provide a new perspective on interesting organisms during his presentation on October 5, 2019.
- “BIRD NERD” - Hannah Madden is a terrestrial ecologist from Saba’s neighboring island, St. Eustatius, with a strong passion for bird ecology and research. Combined, these two islands represent nearly 50% of the world’s nesting habitat for Red-billed Tropicbirds, which has led her to focus on this species in particular. Joining her field project, visitors will observe these birds at their nesting sites and learn about their monogamous mating practices and good parenting skills. She will also give a lecture based on her deep knowledge of this and other bird species on October 9, 2019.
Based on the Caribbean island of Saba, Sea & Learn is a non profit foundation that aims to bring together the local community, diverse nature experts, and visitors, to understand the value of nature both worldwide and locally.
Reserve Your Spot
Contact the Sea & Learn Foundation today about participating. And if you can't make it, consider donating to keep this project running long into the future!
Additional Reading
Creature Feature: the Flashing Disco Clam
Capturing the Elusive Mouth Brooding Jawfish
6 Ways You and Your Kids Can Help Save the Sharks
Planning a Shore Diving Trip to Bonaire
