Savannah Science Seminar
March 2017
The Diaz lab organized and hosted an evening of learning for 32 Savannah-area high school students at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography on March 27, 2017. The theme was phytoplankton biogeochemistry. Students discovered the importance of these critical microorganisms to the Earth system and our daily lives.
Graduate students from Dr. Elizabeth Harvey’s lab, Sean Anderson and Patrick Duffy, guided the students on a journey into the microscopic world of phytoplankton with the state-of-the-art FlowCAM instrumentation (Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc).
Dr. Catherine Edwards explained physical
processes that transport phytoplankton throughout the world’s oceans and demonstrated the tools and technologies that she utilizes in her physical oceanographic research.
Dr. Julia Diaz and PhD student Sydney Plummer discussed phosphorus, a nutrient that fertilizes the growth of phytoplankton in aquatic environments. Students determined the concentration of phosphorus in natural water samples using a colorimetric method. We had lively discussions about agricultural runoff and eutrophication, sustainable resource management, and food security.
We enjoyed our time with the students of Savannah Science Seminar. The future of science and our environment is brighter because of this vibrant young generation!
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The Diaz Lab is passionate about communicating our science to broad audiences. Julia has written articles for Encyclopedia Britannica and recently co-authored a paper in the Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin about translating scientific abstracts into stories. We are making big plans for the future, and we are looking for lab members who are interested in contributing to our communication and outreach goals. Contact me if you would like to learn more.
The Diaz Lab 