Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) Conference 2024

Overview

From April 25-28th, 2024, The International SeaKeepers Society’s Education Manager, Toni Lohroff, and Community Engagement Associate, Lillian Engelhard, attended the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) 2024 Conference in Juno Beach, Florida. FMSEA has been hosting annual conferences throughout the state since 1986, offering marine science educators the opportunity to hear from prominent speakers in marine science, engage in interactive professional development sessions, network with other educators and individuals, and exhibit to the general public.

Some highlights from the weekend:

Toni and Lillian began the conference with a field trip to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park along with other conference attendees. This state park is a hidden gem in Palm Beach County, featuring 1.6 miles of sandy beach with snorkeling opportunities, a Nature Center with interactive exhibits, and an estuary that can be explored via kayak or paddleboard. MacArthur beach is also a popular sea turtle nesting site, with 18 Leatherback and 2 Loggerhead sea turtle nests found so far this year. For a $5 entry fee, visitors can come explore a diverse range of Florida ecosystems while learning about the amazing wildlife they support and how we can protect them.

We wrapped up the first day of the conference with the President’s Circle SciCafe hosted at the Nature Center at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. We all gathered around to hear from aquatic sensory biologist Dr. Lauren Eve Simonitis, who is a NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow researching ink as a chemical defense in sea hares, cephalopods and cetaceans. We also heard from Dr. Stephen Kajiura, a biological sciences professor at FAU researching the integration of sensory behaviors with functional morphology as well as the annual blacktip shark migration using aerial surveys and field observations.

Day two was packed with learning and networking opportunities at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education and conservation center. SeaKeepers joined dozens of other organizations as exhibitors, setting up a table to showcase our work to the general public and other conference attendees. The day started off with a Keynote address from Jessica Harvey of the Guy Harvey Foundation, who discussed her fathers dedication to conserving marine life and foundation’s goal of creating a greener planet by improving access to marine science educational resources. Toni and Lillian spent the rest of the day alternating between exhibiting at our booth and attending presentations and workshops from organizations like Florida SeaGrant, Eckerd College, Canvas of the Wild, Valencia College and Loggerhead Marinelife Center. These organizations presented their work along with hands-on activities they recommend using to teach on topics such as marine debris, connecting with nature through art and dockside ecology.

Day two ended with a FMSEA annual member meeting, followed by a silent auction, banquet, and entertainment where attendees were able to network and support FMSEA’s educator scholarship fund.
On our third and final day, Toni and Lillian attended the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s BleachWatch Workshop to become a BleachWatch Trained Observer and learn how to identify and report coral bleaching and disease on our reefs. The conference was brought to an end with closing remarks from Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist and author of the bestselling novel Blue Mind.

Once back in Miami, Toni and Lillian attended the virtual post-conference Aquatic Species Collection Workshop to receive a 3-year certification to collect aquatic species for educational purposes.

Outing Goal

By attending events like FMSEA’s annual educator conference, our education department is able to stay in touch with current South Florida marine science education strategies, challenges, and partnerships. In doing so, we hope to maximize our collective impact in marine conservation education and outreach for students and educators locally, but also globally. We are proud members of the Florida Marine Science Educators Association and we look forward to attending next year’s conference!