When: Mon. March 19, 2018, 5 p.m.
Where: NELHA Gateway Center
Presenters: Stacia Goecke and Travis Marcoux, Hawai`i Uncharted Research Collective
Hawai`i Uncharted Research Collective (HURC), a newly founded non-profit organization, has launched a citizen science effort to learn more about whale sharks in Hawai`i and how the individuals sighted here fit into the worldwide population. Despite being endangered worldwide, there have been limited scientific studies regarding whale sharks in Hawaiian waters. Many consider sightings in Hawai`i less frequent and reliable than other locations, making them a difficult species to study. HURC partners community outreach with scientific expertise, to research this poorly known species through a collaborative effort. By encouraging community members throughout the Hawaiian Islands to send in photos and videos of whale shark encounters, HURC studies seasonality trends, population dynamics, fine- and large-scale movement patterns, and size distribution of these large ocean-roamers.
Concurrent to the evening's presentation is the kickoff of a Nature Prints Exhibition by William Twibell, see this page for more.
The Presenters
Stacia Goecke (Research Scientist) is a 2015 MS in Marine Science graduate from Hawaii Pacific University with a focus on fish communities and human impact/ environmental changes. Stacia has spent the past 12 years volunteering with cetacean research projects studying Hawaiian Odontocetes (Cascadia Research Collective), Spinner Dolphins (SAPPHIRE project- joint study by Duke and Murdoch Universities) and Humpback Whales (Hawaii Whale Research Foundation). She currently works for the Kona Division of Aquatic Resources and Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective.
Travis Marcoux (Technical Scientist) is a 2016 MS in Marine Science graduate from Hawaii Pacific University with a concentration in Ichthyology/Metabolism and Energetics. Before attending HPU, Travis worked as the Staff Biologist for a private marine resource company, performing environmental assessments, invasive species management, and biotoxin monitoring on the East Coast. Besides working for Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective, he is currently working towards his submarine pilot endorsement off the Kona coast.
After the presentation, we will have pupus, drinks, and conversation. We are informal and it is potluck, so please bring a pupu and non-alcoholic beverage to share. Reusable plates and cups are encouraged, as is taking home your own trash.
Agenda:
5:00-5:15 p.m. Gather and Networking
5:15-6:15 p.m. Presentation and Q&A
6:15-7:30 p.m. More Networking, pupus
Video:
Here is video from the presentation. My battery died shortly before the end, but you don't miss too much of it.