Aquarium Guest Speaker Series Features ‘Hope for Reefs’ on August 27, 2020

September 2, 2020

WHAT: Around the world, coral reefs are threatened by climate change, coastal development, and pollution, and they need our help to recover. Tune in for a virtual lecture from the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Guest Speaker Series to learn more about what scientists and experts are doing to help coral reefs survive and thrive.

On August 27, 2020, Bart Shepherd will discuss the California Academy of Sciences’ coral reef restoration efforts. The organization is developing techniques for large-scale restoration by seeding damaged reefs with corals grown on self-attaching substrates. This helps maintain genetic diversity and reduces the labor and time required for restoration. This work, along with their research, will accelerate the development of the techniques needed to give coral reefs a hopeful future.

Shepherd is the senior director of Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences and co-director of the Academy’s Hope for Reefs initiative.

The Guest Speaker Series is part of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Online Academy, which offers free live and on-demand educational resources for both kids and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, August 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time

WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific’s website: aquariumofpacific.org

COST: Anyone can tune in for FREE, no RSVPs required

INFO: (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/hope_for_reefs_advancing_the_science_of_coral_reef_restoration/

LECTURE SERIES SPONSORS: Courtyard Long Beach Downtown and Gazette Newspapers

AQUARIUM: The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Shark Lagoon, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, and the Molina Animal Care Center. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including lectures by leading scientists, through its Online Academy. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. NOTE: ONLY OUTDOOR AREAS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN. Convenient parking is available for $8 with Aquarium validation.