The term “distance learning” has become a part of the normal vocabulary during the COVID-19 pandemic. The North Carolina Science Festival is taking the term to a whole new level.
The UNC Science Expo, one of the Festival’s signature events, is planning a day of science on April 16 from the Center for Galapagos Studies in the Galapagos Islands. And if the satellite internet works as planned, scientists plan to be live from the archipelago for part of the day.
The Galapagos Science Center is a partnership between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador. It was dedicated in 2011 and has become a hub to coordinate scientific research projects between local, national and international scientists to benefit the Galapagos and the world of science. The center is first and only academic research center in the archipelago. There are 66 research projects currently ongoing.
“Scientists at the center are conducting amazing research into a unique ecosystem as well as with the animals that live there and we thought it would be cool to let everyone see what they are doing,” explains Jonathan Frederick, director the North Carolina Satellite Festival. “So, we’re using satellite internet and scientist’s phones and really testing the technology. We’ve never done anything like this before and it’s going to be great!”
Here’s the lineup from the Galapagos Islands, which by the way, are off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
April 16, 10:00 am | Marti the Hammerhead and Shark Conservation
Elementary School
Shark researcher Alex Hearn of the Galapagos Science Center will read the exciting story of Marti the Hammerhead and answer your questions about shark research. Post-program activities and resources will be shared with registered participants.
Presenter: Alex Hearn
April 16, 12:00 pm | BARCODE Galapagos
Adults
Join us over lunch for an informal meet up with the team from BARCODE Galapagos, the most ambitious citizen science project to document biological life in Galapagos.
Lead researchers from UNC and USFQ explaining the Barcode Galapagos project, its importance to both help the community and its intended outcomes. Hear about the genetics side of the project and get an ‘on the ground’ account collecting samples and using the mini-Ion barcoding machines to capture this important data.
Presenters: Jaime Chavez, Corbin Jones, and Diana Pazmiño
April 16, 3:00 pm | Hammerhead Sharks, Epic Migrations, and Island Conservation
Ages 10-14
Shark researcher Alex Hearn dives deeper into the world of shark conversation as he reads from the Galapagos Conservation Trust’s first ever educational book: Marti the Hammerhead Shark; and answers your questions about sharks, SCUBA diving, science and more!
Presenter: Alex Hearn
April 16, 5:00 pm | UNC and the Galapagos Science Center
High School and Adults
The Galapagos Science Center (GSC) represents a unique facility and a special opportunity to make the world a better place by enriching our understanding of coupled human-natural systems in a world-renowned National Park, Marine Reserve and World Heritage Site.
Three researchers from the Center will discuss what it’s like to walk in the footsteps of Charles Darwin as they work across social, terrestrial and marine subsystems to help tackle threats to island sustainability. Amanda Thompson will focus on public health and nutrition. Diego Riveros-Iregui will focus on water and land dynamics. Adrian Marchetti will talk about marine ecology and biological productivity in Galapagos.
Presenters: Amanda Thompson, Diego Riveros-Iregui and Adrian Marchetti
There are many more events planned for the UNC Science Expo on April 16, in addition to the events from the Galapagos Island. All of the events are free, but you need to register.
This year’s NC Science Festival is a hybrid model, to accommodate communities that can safely host in-person events and those who would prefer to host a virtual event
For the complete list of everything happening with the festival, click here for the current NC SciFest calendar of events.