Beth Firchau, the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project coordinator, and others from her team will share the story of rescuing corals in Florida. The story is being written by scientists, field biologists, and public aquariums across the country. It features exotic places, a cunning villain, a host of colorful characters, and heroes: a team working together to save the day.

Speakers:

Beth Firchau is a thirty-year public aquarium and zoo community animal care, management, and conservation professional. Currently, she is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project coordinator.

Maurizio Martinelli is a former national coral reef management fellow with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He currently serves as Florida Sea Grant’s Coral Disease Response coordinator.

Chris Corpus is a filmmaker and previously held positions at the Aquarium of the Pacific in the volunteer services and audio visual departments. Currently he is the conservation programs manager for the Dallas Zoo.

Michelle Graulty is a graduate of the Miami University Rosestiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. She serves as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Awareness & Appreciation project coordinator.