Ocean Health Among Top Concerns of Experts
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., recently hosted a meeting of experts to develop communication strategies for the most pressing ocean issues facing the nation.
“Ocean health and its impact on human health were among the top concerns,” said Jerry Schubel, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Aquarium of the Pacific. “Our challenge is to make these issues accessible to the public and provide the tools to take personal action.”
Experts in several fields from around the nation included communications experts from Stanford University and Duke University; marine experts from UCLA, Oceana, the CSC Corporation, and the Southern California Marine Institute; education experts from other aquariums around the nation; as well as experts in pollution, climate change, coastal hazards, aquaculture, and film, from Harvard University, NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab, Johns Hopkins University, the Chronicles Group, Texas A & M University, and MacGillivray Freeman Films.
During the meeting, the experts worked on updating the National Academy of Sciences’ Ocean Science Series to make it more relevant to the public. “It is of vital importance to engage the public on these issues since the ocean covers over 70 percent of our planet and affects our health, economy, climate, and other issues pertinent to our survival,” said James Wood, Ph.D., director of education at the aquarium. The reports will be used by educators and the general public to gain knowledge on current issues and to explore different ways to get involved.
World Ocean Day is June 6. For more information, visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/conservation.