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 Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Celebrate World Ocean Day at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Several special activities planned for June 8 celebration Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego World Ocean Day: Sunday, June 8, 2008Join Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, in celebrating the 16th annual World Ocean Day on Sunday, June 8. The aquarium will offer several activities throughout the day - included with general admission - to honor our human connection to the oceans and raise awareness of the need for enhanced environmental protection. WORLD OCEAN DAY ACTIVITIES: 10:30 a.m., World Ocean Day Kelp Tank Dive Show Talk with an aquarium diver submerged inside Birch Aquarium's two-story kelp forest tank to hand-feed sharks, fish and other animals. Learn about this unique under-sea environment found off San Diego's coast, get up close with the creatures that call it home and learn how you can keep it thriving. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., "Once Upon A Tide" screening (runs continuously) Embark on a modern-day fairy tale with "Once Upon a Tide," a new family-friendly 10-minute film that reconnects viewers to the importance of the ocean for all life on Earth. Find out how we can break the spell and save the ocean and ourselves.  Anemone are one of several creatures that live in tide pools. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tide Pool Encounters Have you ever eaten lunch with your toes? Hung from a rock by a thread or held your breath for six hours? Learn about the cool creatures of tide pools that do these amazing things every day. Get hands-on with animals that live in these special ecosystems and see how truly extraordinary life can be between the tides. Noon & 1:30 p.m., Wonders of the Kelp Forest Geared for children ages 2 to 6, this family-oriented exploration into the spectacular world of the underwater kelp forest includes story time, live animal interaction and a take-home craft. Created in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, World Ocean Day is an annual opportunity to celebrate our ocean and personal connection to the sea. The summit was the first major international gathering focused on the health of the ocean. Its centerpiece was the ratification of the Global Warming Treaty, made possible by the inaugural 1990 report from the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international body of researchers who analyze climate change and its impacts on the planet. Four Scripps scientists were key contributors to the lead component of the fourth IPCC report, released in February 2007. # # # Visit Birch Aquarium at Scripps:Location: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, Calif. Phone: 858-534-FISH Website: http://aquarium.ucsd.edu Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Admission: $11 Adult, 18+ $9 Senior, 60+ $7.50 Youth, 3-17 Free Children, 2 and under Free Scripps Oceanographic Society Members Directions: From Interstate 5, exit at La Jolla Village Drive. West one mile. Left on Expedition Way. Parking: Birch Aquarium offers three-hour courtesy parking. # # # Note to broadcast and cable producers: University of California, San Diego provides an on-campus satellite uplink facility for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please phone or e-mail the media contact listed above to arrange an interview. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. The National Research Council has ranked Scripps first in faculty quality among oceanography programs nationwide Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today in 65 countries. The institution has a staff of about 1,300, and annual expenditures of approximately $155 million from federal, state and private sources. Scripps operates one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration. |
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