Smithsonian Offers Morning Lectures At Aquarium

Adults and seniors are invited to enjoy a series of five lectures presented by local researchers and experts in marine science. The morning lecture series is being hosted by the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit in the St. Lucie County Aquarium on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce and is sponsored by the Florida Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE). The bi-weekly series will focus on current marine science topics, including:

• February 15, 2012
Dolphins of the Bahamas with Dr. Cindy Elliser (Indian River State College)

• February 29, 2012
Location, Location, Location: How do coral larvae find prime real estate on the reef? with Dr. Jennifer Sneed (Smithsonian Marine Station)

• March 14, 2012
Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems: A look at the Smithsonian’s 40-year history in Belize with Scott Jones (Smithsonian Marine Station)

Lectures begin at 9 a.m. at the Ecosystems Exhibit and will last until approximately 10 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Lectures are free with paid admission ($3 for seniors 55+, $4 for adults). One-year memberships, which includes free admission, are available starting at just $15. Please contact the Education Office at 772-465-3271 for further questions or to reserve your seat today!

COSEE Florida is a partnership between Indian River State College (IRSC), Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), the Smithsonian Marine Station, and Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. COSEE Florida is based at the IRSC Science Center at the Main Campus in Fort Pierce, Florida and joins the national network of 12 centers and a Central Coordinating Office funded by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences. For more information about COSEE Florida, visit www.coseeflorida.org.

The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit is located in the St. Lucie County Aquarium at 420 Seaway Drive on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. The Smithsonian Marine Station has teamed with St. Lucie County and other community partners to create this unique educational facility. The Ecosystems Exhibit is an outreach effort of the Smithsonian Marine Station, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fixture in the Fort Pierce community for over 40 years, the Marine Station is dedicated to understanding the character and diversity of the marine and estuarine habitats of Florida. For more information, visit www.sms.si.edu.