The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is bringing marine scientists and science communicators to Grand Cayman this month for a series of free public events and school presentations.
Marine scientist Dr Ellen Prager and meteorologist Dave Jones will visit government schools and public events and use science, storytelling and humour to explore marine ecosystems, weather and climate change, the organisation shared in a press release.
The programme builds on CCMI’s outreach campaign last year, when science communicators Uli Kunz and Doug Allan delivered talks to more than 1,000 people across local schools, public events and the institute’s annual Festival of Seas fundraising gala.
As part of CCMI’s Healthy Reefs Reef Lecture series, they will present ‘Megalodons, mermaids, and climate change: Combating misinformation with science, education and laughter’ on 29 October from 6pm to 7pm.
The free event, at Cayman Enterprise City’s auditorium at Signal House on Fairbanks Road, George Town will examine how people can distinguish reliable environmental information from misleading headlines, unsupported claims and the selective use of data.
The speakers will also draw on questions and answers from their recently released book and discuss the role of public engagement in linking scientific research with education, conservation and management.
Advance registration is requested here.
CCMI chief executive Kate Holden will lead a separate workshop on marine sustainability and environmental communications on 27 October from 4pm to 6:30pm, also at Cayman Enterprise City’s Plexy’s Auditorium.
The free, interactive workshop will explore how environmental challenges and potential solutions can be communicated effectively to encourage greater understanding and action.
The session draws on Holden’s PhD research into video and social media as tools for engaging people with ocean issues.
It is aimed at environmental organisations, businesses in the tourism sector, corporations and individuals interested in communicating sustainability issues and environmental, social and governance commitments.
Places are limited, and advance registration is required here.
Prager and Jones will also be guest speakers at this year’s CCMI gala, ‘Festival of seas: Gothic tides’ at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman on 31 October.
CCMI, which is based in Little Cayman, said its outreach programme aimed to strengthen ocean literacy in Cayman by helping people understand the threats facing marine ecosystems and how individual choices can contribute to conservation.
The institute said scientific research is essential to understanding changes in the ocean, but that building an emotional connection with marine life can also encourage people to take action to protect it.
