FT. PIERCE, FL--The Marine Education Division of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is pleased to announce that it will host a series of ten (10) Ocean Science Lectures, beginning Thursday, January 20, 2000 and continuing every Thursday evening until March 23, 2000.
This series has been developed to share with the community the diversity of expertise and exciting research activities currently underway at Harbor Branch. The lectures will feature Harbor Branch scientists, researchers and support staff as they present the most recent findings from their various programs. The first lecture will be presented on Thursday, January 20, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. by Harbor Branch's Director of Biomedical Marine Research, Dr. Shirley Pomponi, as she discusses the search for marine-derived medicines to cure human diseases. Her lecture is titled, "Neptune's Medicine Chest: New Drugs from the Sea". Subsequent lectures will cover topics such as: the Indian River Lagoon; bioluminescence in deep-sea animals; coral reef ecosystems; aquaculture; larval ecology; the wild dolphin of the Indian River Lagoon; and underwater recovery techniques using manned and unmanned undersea vehicles.
Though the primary goal for this series is to share the expertise found at Harbor Branch with the community, the series will also serve as a fundraiser to further ongoing research and education efforts. Each speaker will receive a stipend that he or she will use directly to further ongoing research activities. In addition, a portion of the funds raised will be used for internships and scholarships for graduate students interested in pursuing careers in the ocean sciences.
Tickets for the entire series (10 lectures) are $50. Individual tickets are $6 per lecture. Lecture tickets will be available at the door. Reserved seating available through advance reservations. For questions or to reserve seating, please call Beth Thomas at (561) 465-2400, extension 501 or toll-free (800) 333-4264, extension 501.
Lectures will be held in the auditorium of Harbor Branch's J. Seward Johnson Marine Education and Conference Center, located at 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce (one mile North of Indrio Road).
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to the exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind.