Nerd Nite Miami XXV 11.10.16
“The Good Old Days: Growing Up On Biscayne Bay” by Captain Dan Kipnis
A history lesson leading up to the critical environmental problems that have recently surfaced to degrade the health of the Bay.
/ / / / / / /
“#BayDrift: Using nerds like you to find the solution to pollution.” by Laura Bracken Chaibongsai
Picture this – you’re enjoying a long walk on the beach, the sun is setting over the Miami skyline, warm breeze in your hair…. until you stumble upon a lone flip flop, a bottle, or maybe a diaper?!?! Gross! Where the hell did that come from?!?! With the help of citizen scientists, researchers are working to understand how ocean currents in Biscayne Bay are transporting trash and other pollutants. The #BayDrift study is a collaborative community research project led by CARTHE (research team based at University of Miami RSMAS), Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and Frost Science. The nerds learned about our Bay and ocean currents, and how we are trying to solve the marine debris mysteries. Bonus: painting drift cards for the upcoming drift card release.
/ / / / / / /
“A Dredgeful Situation: PortMiami, corals, and the endangered species act.” by Rachel Silverstein
In a race to expand U.S. ports to accommodate larger, next-generation shipping vessels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is targeting ports along the eastern seaboard for expansion and dredging. The Port of Miami was first on the list, where the shipping channel bisects a once-thriving coral reef and critical habitat for threatened staghorn corals. Our reefs have been smothered by sediment from the dredging but the Army Corps and its contractors have still not been held accountable for the damage. In response, Miami Waterkeeper, along with three other co-plaintiffs, filed a citizen suit in October 2014 to enforce legally-mandated protections for these imperiled corals through the Endangered Species Act.