Discover the marine life of Sydney Harbour this Sunday (March 4) with a feast of displays and talks hosted by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the UNSW-backed Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Sciences at Chowder Bay in Mosman.
Discover the marine life of Sydney Harbour this Sunday (March 4) with a feast of displays and talks hosted by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the UNSW-backed Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Sciences at Chowder Bay in Mosman.
Coinciding with both Sydney Harbour Week and Sea Week, the Open Day at historic Chowder Bay promises to be a fun and educational day with public seminars, displays and activities for all ages.
Displays throughout the day will include: a spectacular underwater photography exhibition; an underwater vehicle being used to study wrecks, marine parks and life on the sea floor; display tanks and microscope viewing of marine flora and fauna found at Chowder Bay; a sea urchin research and aquaculture exhibit; and a 'show and tell' of oceanic and marine items in display cabinets.
From 10.45am, researchers will speak about their work. UNSW's Dr Iain Suthers will talk about state-of-the-art technology being used to eavesdrop on sharks, and the effects of climate change on the health of oceans and marine life. He will profile a new high-frequency coastal radar for viewing surface currents and waves in real-time up to 200 km from shore, and new $160,000 Autonomous Ocean gliders being used to record temperature, salinity and water quality.
Considered one of the world's richest marine environments, Chowder Bay is part of "Headland Park", one of Sydney's newest parklands that incorporates Harbour Trust lands across Middle Head and Georges Heights. The area offers spectacular harbourside walking tracks with breath-taking views of Sydney Harbour. Walking tracks pass through magnificent bushland and historical military sites that have been closed to the public for more than 100 years.
The Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science (SHIMS) is a partnership between UNSW, Macquarie University, the University of Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). SHIMS is a joint-venture, research facility that brings together leading scientists working on issues that are critical for the sustainable management of coastal and oceanic environments.
What: Open Day at Chowder Bay
When: 9am-5pm, Sunday March 4th
Where: Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science, Building 22, Chowder Bay Road Mosman NSW
More information: http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/
Media enquiries:Dr Iain Suthers, 0414 385 351 Dan Gaffney, 0411 156 015