REEF Fest is nearly here, and we couldn't be more excited for our annual marine conservation celebration in Key Largo! If you're planning to attend, we look forward to seeing you soon. If you haven't yet registered, you can still make plans to join us Oct 16-19 for ocean presentations, fun socials, and more. Check out all the details and register for REEF Fest at www.REEF.org/REEFfest.
Don't miss the REEF Campus Open House on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public, and all are invited to drop by to check out the Ocean Exploration Center, mingle with friends, and grab a bite to eat from the food trucks onsite. There are still tickets available to For the Love of the Sea, our annual REEF Fest celebration held at stunning waterfront location overlooking Florida Bay. There will be dinner, drinks, and a silent auction featuring marine life artwork and photography, jewelry, vacation packages, and more. Limited tickets are available for $125 per person and include appetizers, dinner, desserts, coffee, and an open bar with local craft beer, wine, signature cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. You can purchase tickets to For the Love of the Sea online by visiting the link above.
Be sure to join us for free ocean seminars at the Ocean Exploration Center on Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18. If you aren't able to watch in person, all of the REEF Fest seminars will be live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. The seminar schedule is below. All times listed are in ET.
Friday, October 17
• 2:30 pm: "Tracking Shark and Ray Sightings Across the Caribbean: Insights from decades of citizen science data" presented by Brendan Talwar, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• 4:00 pm: "Participatory Science: A valuable tool for biodiversity research" presented by Corey T. Callaghan, Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida
• 6:00 pm: "Why I Cave Dive When There’s No Fish: An introduction to the world of cave diving" presented by Nat Gibb, Cave Explorer, Underwater Photographer and Videographer
Saturday, October 18
• 2:30 pm: "Can Reef Tanks Save Coral? Hobbyists and the future of the healthy ocean" presented by Sam Muka, Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Stevens Institute of Technology
Following this seminar, join us for a signing of Sam Muka's book, "Oceans under Glass: Tank Craft and the Sciences of the Sea". Copies are available for purchase during REEF Fest!