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September 29, 2003
Long Marine Lab celebrates its 25th anniversary
with a special lecture series and public programs
By Tim Stephens
Long Marine Laboratory turns 25 this fall, and the oceanside research
facility will be celebrating its silver anniversary with a variety of
public programs, tours, and lectures during the first 25 days in October.
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| Many different species of rockfish
are on display at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, which runs
Long Marine Lab's public education and visitor programs. Photo:
Peter Macht |
Highlighting the October celebration is a stellar lineup of speakers
for the lab's annual fall lecture series. In addition, there will be
special exhibits and commemorative activities throughout the month at
the lab's Seymour Marine Discovery Center.
Founded in 1978, the Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory is a research
facility of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California,
Santa Cruz.
The lab is known throughout the world for innovative research on marine
mammals, marine ecology, and issues relating to ocean health.
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center, which runs the lab's public education
and visitor programs, brings marine research to life for tens of thousands
of schoolchildren and other visitors every year.
This year's fall lecture series, "Long Marine Lab: 25 Years of
Marine Science," features seven prominent speakers on three Thursday
evenings in October. Confirmed speakers include Julie Packard, Leon
Panetta, Kathryn Sullivan, Burney Le Boeuf, Brian Walton, Sandy Lydon,
and Gary Griggs (see below for a complete schedule). Talks begin at
7 p.m. at the Seymour Center. Admission is $5 for members, $8 for the
general public. Seating is limited, so advance purchase is recommended.
Tickets can be purchased at the center or by phone at (831) 459-3800.
On weekends throughout October, the Seymour Center will be offering
docent-led tours nearly every hour. There will be two "See More"
presentations every day, one on the discovery of "marine snow"
by UCSC ocean scientist Mary Silver and another on the story of "Ms.
Blue," the blue whale whose 87-foot skeleton has become the Long
Marine Lab mascot.
The center's touch tanks and aquariums will feature the usual variety
of fascinating marine life, including Chinook salmon in the seasonal
tank and 25 different types of crabs. The history of Long Marine Lab
will be featured in 25 "fascinating facts" posted throughout
the exhibit hall, and younger visitors can use a pirate's map to search
for treasure in a "Silver Scavenger Hunt."
Additional information on all programs and events is available on the
Seymour Center web site (http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu) or by calling
the center at (831) 459-3800.
Fall Lecture Series
October 2
Leon Panetta, director of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for
Public Policy at Cal State Monterey Bay, and Julie Packard, executive
director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a UCSC alumna. Both of these
local luminaries served on the Pew Oceans Commission and will share
their perspectives on ocean health and policy.
October 9
Brian Walton, coordinator of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research
Group, and Burney Le Boeuf, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary
biology at UCSC, will share results and insights from two decades of
research on peregrine falcons and elephant seals, respectively. They
will be joined by Kathryn Sullivan, president and CEO of the Center
of Science and Industry and a UCSC alumna, who will share her perspectives
as an astronaut, oceanographer, and educator.
October 16
Sandy Lydon, professor emeritus of history at Cabrillo College, and
Gary Griggs, professor of Earth sciences and director of UCSC's Institute
of Marine Sciences. This presentation, "Long Marine Lab and Monterey
Bay: From the Cretaceous to the Coastal Commission," will review
the geological and historical past and possible futures of the region.
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