Upcoming Events Calendar
Check out some cool events and trips planned for February by downloading ORCA's Events Calendar. Be sure to check back monthly for calendar updates so you don't miss out! Download Calendar

Science Cafés
ORCA will be holding Science Cafés at the Majestic Theater in Vero Beach, FL.  There is no cost for Team ORCA members, and for non-members there is a $10 admission fee. The first Science Café will be hosted by Dr. Edie Widder on Monday, January 30th at 10 am.  The films that will be shown that day are Secret Lights in the Sea and Creatures of the Deep. Enjoy a cup of coffee with Dr. Widder while she shares some of her best bioluminescence footage.  On February 13th at 10 am, Dr. Sarah Frias-Torres will show Mangroves: The Flooded Forest. In 2005, Sarah received an M.A. in Film Studies at the University of Miami, which led her to the production of this film. For more information on these events, please call 772-467-1600.

TEDx
The TEDx programs are independently organized TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) events that are planned and coordinated by local communities. In September 2011, Dr. Edie Widder spoke at the TEDx event at The Pine School in Hobe Sound, FL.  Watch the video here and learn what Edie is doing to get kids interested in science and math.  Dr. Widder talks about her work with bioluminescence and involvement with the newly formed Florida Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE). 

Dr. Sarah Frias-Torres, Postdoctoral Scholar at Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) in Ft. Pierce, has been invited to speak as one of Florida's leading thinkers at the TEDx Fort Lauderdale (TEDxFLL) conference December 10, at the Nova Southeastern University campus. Dr. Frias-Torres’ talk "Diving with Goliath" will showcase her research on goliath grouper, the largest grouper fish in the Atlantic ocean and the most endangered. Goliath groupers are worth more money alive than dead, and Dr. Frias-Torres will explain how continued protection of this species can generate science-based sustainable economic opportunities for the region. Created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” TEDx FLL is organized along the theme of “Creative Broward,” It  will feature a keynote presenter and 7 of the county’s leading thinkers, innovators, artists, philosophers and entertainers representing such diverse fields as technology, entertainment, visual and performance art, design, politics, music, ecology, and education, among others. In this way, Broward County stakeholders from different economic activities will be inspired and open to collaborate on innovative ideas and projects. Tickets for the event can be obtained here.

SEJ Invites Local Scientist to Speak at International Conference
Ft. Pierce, Florida - Sept. 13, 2011 | Dr. Edith Widder and Dr. Sarah Frias-Torres of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) in Fort Pierce have been invited to speak at the 21st Annual Conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) in Miami on October 19-23, 2011. Press Release

Water As Habitat Workshop
ORCA's Dr. Edie Widder partnered with IRSC and the Smithsonian Marine Station to lead the first of the Florida COSEE (Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence) Water As Habitat Workshops (WAH). The workshop titled Adaptations to Life in the Deep Sea was hosted at IRSC on February 26th. The Water As Habitat workshops are part of the COSEE Florida's dedication to creating collaborations between scientists and educators to promote ocean literacy and appreciation among the public. Both formal and informal Florida educators from around the state participated in the WAH workshop, designed to engage educators and bring the excitement of marine research into the classroom. Dr. Widder led the workshop which focused on the factors that affect life in the deep sea, and the fascinating adaptations of deep sea organisms that enable them to live in such an extreme environment. Participants rotated through lab stations to enhance their knowledge of the deep sea, which included topics such as water properties, light in the ocean, and the opportunity to observe bioluminescence and preserved deep sea specimens. Dr. Widder then connected the lab station concepts with her lecture titled "Animal Adaptations to Life in the Deep Sea". Later in the day, teachers were able to collaborate with other Florida educators and apply what they learned to design new lesson plans for their classrooms. For more information about COSEE Florida, please visit: www.coseeflorida.org

Conference and Workshop on the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem
ORCA engineers Eric Thosteson and Tony Cimaglia, Managing Director, Warren Falls, and Post Doc Sarah Frias-Torres attended and presented posters at the conference, “Linking Science to Management: A Conference & Workshop on the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem” in Duck Key, Florida from October 19-22. Apparent from many presentations was that a combination of extreme high and low water temperatures, diseases, heavy nutrient loading, septic tank leakage, and over-fishing is resulting in rapid degradation of the Florida Keys' marine ecosystems. There was consensus among the resource management community present that improved monitoring was necessary to support better management, but that budgetary constraints wouldn’t permit more of the same - larger labor forces, additional off-the-shelf instruments, or the considerably greater expense required to retrofit existing sensor systems to get more frequent, near real-time measurements. ORCA’s poster, “Marine Water Quality Monitoring with the ORCA Kilroy Network” served as an introduction to our Kilroy Network technology, and was well received, particularly by the management community. Learn About The Kilroy Network

Additionally, a poster presented by Dr. Frias-Torres on “Social perceptions confronting science in an endangered reef fish” provided scientific evidence refuting common myths on goliath groupers. The perception that goliath groupers eat all the lobsters and fish in the reef has no scientific support, because goliath groupers are generalists, feeding mostly on many different species of invertebrates and poisonous fish. The ability to feed on poisonous fish could potentially make goliath groupers the main native predators against the invasive lionfish. Scientific research, thus, supports the need for continued protection of the goliath grouper. Learn About Goliath Grouper

“GLOW: Living Lights,” a New Special Exhibit
Raleigh, NC - June 19 thru Sept. 12, 2010 | Discover what puts the “fire” in fireflies when the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh opens “GLOW: Living Lights,” a new special exhibit on display from June 19 through Sept. 12. Visitors start their journey by investigating the chemical process that produces “cool” light. Learn More

Dr. Widder to Speak at the 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen, CO - July 5 thru July 11, 2010 | Some of the world's most inspired and provocative thinkers, writers, artists, business people, teachers, and leaders are gathered here. Each day, they will teach, speak, lead, question, and interact with an audience ready to delve into a world of ideas, thought, and discussion. Learn More

Dr. Widder Gives Prestigious TED Talk In The Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands - April 9, 2010 | Dr. Edie Widder, award winning scientist and founder of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), participated in the TED Mission Blue Voyage in the Galapagos focused on ocean health and conservation. Dr. Widder's TED presentation recorded from the deck of the ship Endeavour and is now available on the web. Story

Forum On Local Ecosystems
Kissimmee, FL - Sepember 30, 2009 | On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 a facilitated meeting involving agricultural landowners along with local and national experts on our regions ecosystems, was held at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association office in Kissimmee, FL. Story