We had a beautiful day last Saturday as more than 1,900 visitors converged on our campus for our annual open house, Skidaway Marine Science Day.
The event featured activities geared for all ages from young children to adults. These included programs, tours, displays and hands-on activities, primarily related to marine science.
Skidaway Marine Science Day was presented Skidaway Institute and our campus partners, including the University of Georgia (UGA) Marine Education Center and Aquarium, the UGA Shellfish Research Laboratory, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and WSVH Georgia Public Radio.
The Skidaway Institute offered a variety of activities for adults and children, including tours of the Research Vessel Savannah;
R/V Savannah
Visitors in the R/V Savannah's "dry lab."
A crowd on "the bridge."
science displays and talks on current research programs; and hands-on science activities.
Charles Roberston explains a CTD array.
Jay Brandes explains some of the science behind the Gulf oil spill.
The UGA Marine Extension Service Aquarium was be open with no admission fee. In addition, the aquarium education staff offered visitors a full afternoon of activities including science talks, a reptile show, boat tours, touch tanks, and behind-the-scene tours of the aquarium.
The aquarium touch tanks are always popular.
The UGA Shellfish Laboratory provided visitors with displays and information on marine life on the Georgia Coast.
Bagging oyster shells for a good cause can actually be fun.
Children were given the opportunity to help protect the marine environment by bagging oyster shells used for oyster reef restoration projects.
Driving ROVs in the pool.
The staff of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary set up their remotely-operated-vehicle (ROV) in a swimming pool and teach visitors how to “drive” it and pick up objects from the bottom.
WSVH Georgia Public Radio was open for visitors.
Skidaway Institute professor Bill Savidge presented a special program, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Science Fair Projects,” aimed at parents and students involved in science fair projects.
For the second year in a row, Skidaway Marine Science Day was also open to non-campus scientific and environmental groups.
Some children got "up close and personal" with wildlife.
Maybe a little too up-close.
Organizations such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Dolphin Project and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center were on-hand to present, information, displays and activities.
The Diamond Terrapin Project brought some of their subjects, which were a big hit with the younger set.
Kids prepare their model plankton for the Plankton Sink-Off.
The Plankton Sink Off is a race to see who can get to the bottom of the tank last.
And what would a festival be without some face painting.
We have a much larger photo gallery on the Skidaway Institute Web site.