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 Thursday, August 21, 2008 Birch Aquarium at Scripps Announces Fall Lecture Series on Marine Protected Areas Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego Dates: Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Public: $8 Students/Educators: $5 RSVP: 858-534-5771 The Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series provides concise, comprehensive presentations on research conducted worldwide by scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Scripps scientists are exploring Earth's mysteries in hundreds of research projects under way on every continent. The fall 2008 series of presentations explores marine protected areas and near-shore research in Southern California. Monday, Sept. 8 A Place of Their Own: Protecting Sea Life in California Edward Parnell The global catch of wild fish has recently plateaued, and many of the world's fisheries are presently fished at or over capacity. Marine protected areas (MPAs) in the ocean are afforded some level of protection from fishing and pollution. Join Scripps marine ecologist Edward Parnell as he describes the science behind MPAs, the process of establishing an MPA network off California and preliminary results from large MPAs around the Channel Islands. Parnell also will discuss his own research in waters off San Diego.  A sheephead, one of 20 exploited La Jolla kelp forest species - the habits of which were factored into a formula devised by Scripps marine ecologist Ed Parnell in creating a scientifically based method of marine reserve design. Monday, Oct. 13 Essential Connections: Natural History, Collections and Marine Conservation Phillip Hastings Natural history collections are the basis of our knowledge of biodiversity patterns. Together with life history studies of individual species, they play a critical role in identifying habitats and regions of special concern to conservation biology. Join Phillip Hastings, curator of the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps, as he describes his research on fishes of the Gulf of California and Southern California. Learn how this type of research is essential for guiding conservation efforts aimed at protecting marine fisheries and ecosystems. Monday, Nov. 10 Marine Protected Areas: Coming Soon to a Coast Near You Russell Moll The development of marine protected areas is a complex mixture of science and politics that engages numerous stakeholders. While it is easy to recognize the importance and benefit of creating these networks, it is often challenging to agree on where to place them. Join Russell Moll, director of California Sea Grant, as he explains the intricate processes involved at state, national and international levels and the steps taken to see if these networks are achieving desired outcomes. The California Sea Grant funds marine research at public and private universities throughout the state. Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) This fall's Perspectives lectures are aligned with the MLPA Southern California Aquarium Partnership, a grant-funded collaboration among Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the Ocean Institute to present programs for southern Californians about the provisions of the Marine Life Protection Act. The MLPA, passed by California legislators in 1999, directs the state to design and manage a network of marine protected areas in order to protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage, as well as improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems. Through lectures, activities and family-friendly events, each institution will engage local audiences in the important process of designating Marine Protected Areas in Southern California. For more information on the 18-month MPA process for the South Coast Study Region, please visit California Department of Fish and Game's website at dfg.ca.gov/mlpa Perspectives lectures are intended for a lay audience. Birch Aquarium admission and parking are included. Light refreshments will be served. Past lectures air on UCSD-TV and broadcast to more than 16 million viewers via satellite and cable television. Past lectures also can be found on YouTube. For more information, visit: http://ucsd.tv/oceanscience # # # 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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