Heather Spence, Marine Biologist

They’re alive!!!  Some corals may look like rocks, and others like plants, but they are actually huge colonies of tiny animals called polyps.  The coral structure ‘homes’ they create and live in form an intricate environment which in turn provides refuge for many other types of marine life.  When we talk about coral reefs, we are talking about not just the structure created by the corals, but all the life that lives in and around them.

There are two main types of corals – hard corals (the ones that look like rocks and are rigid, like Brain Coral), and soft corals (the ones that look like plants and are flexible, like Sea Fans).

The largest coral reef in the world can be found off the coast of Australia.  The second largest is found off the coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

2008 is the International Year of the Coral Reef, to raise awareness about the importance of protecting these rich and fragile ecosystems.

On St. Patrick’s Day Heather’s doing the green thing by going on television (TV CUN, program “Aqui en Cancun”) to plug her book, and talk about the ecology and protected areas and her work with Parque Nacional.

Monday, March 17, 2008; 11:30am-1pm (live)

There are a number of projects that will not be able to continue without outside funding. If you are interested in donating materials, time/expertise, or money (even $20 can buy 2 collectors, or print 20 books), please contact Heather Spence (info at heatherspence dot net)

The following are some of the projects that need additional support:

Snip Six Pack Rings Campaign (to provide scissors, poster materials to schools)

A Field Guide to the Yucatecan Coast (to identify native flora and fauna)

2nd Edition, Marine Life of the Mexican Caribbean (research and printing)

Caribbean Spiny Lobster Artficial Reef/Collector Investigation

Courses and materials for tour guides (to promote ecology awareness)

Elementary school presentations on Marine Ecology

Science and Serenity Ecological Encounters

Acoustic mapping/passive acoustic monitoring, linking results to ecosystem health

Solar electric boats for use by park guards in protected marine areas (less contamination, less noise pollution)

Not all forms of pollution are directly tangible.

Bright lights are known to be hazardous to human and ecosystem health. Focusing the light only where it is wanted, at the brightness wanted, not only helps the environment, security, and the enjoyment of the night sky, but it also saves electricity – and money!

Check out the International Dark Sky Association www.darksky.org

Fiorella Terenzi says, the more I study astrophysics, the more awe I feel about the universe. There’s music in the stars.

My great grandfather Francis Jacob Shreve, born Feb 10 1880, told me Let your habits be your allies.

Victor Wouk shared with me that being open to unexpected opportunities can lead you in interesting directions.

My grandmother Esther Simon Dunkelberger said, if things don’t go as you plan it’s an adventure.

Brad Waller says, always CTSIYPS (check to see if your partner is sane).

David Howard says, perform like a red high heeled shoe.

“The investigation of truth is in one way hard and in another way easy. An indication of this is found in the fact that no one is able to attain the truth entirely, while on the other hand no one fails entirely, but everyone says something true about the nature of things, and by the union of all a considerable amount is amassed.”
~Aristotle

“Science and Serenity” organizes up-close encounters with natural, endangered environments, for educators, policy makers, members of industry and other groups. These visits are intended to give the people who can make a difference in preserving these environs a chance to experience them, appreciate their richness, realize how we cannot let them dissapear, and be inspired to do something about it. It also is a chance to promote dialogue and cooperation between different sectors. Additionally, participants in the excursions assist in collecting scientific data, which provides investigators with needed information as well as providing a hands-on experience in the scientific method, giving insights into scientific perspectives and the importance of monitoring and research.

Would you like to participate in, sponsor, help organize, or suggest a location for an encounter?

Please contact Heather Spence – info at heatherspence dot net (subject line Science and Serenity)

Founder: Cory Giacobbe

SS Team: Cory Giacobbe, Nick Giacobbe, Maya Giacobbe, Heather Spence, Brent Spence, Janet Dunkelberger