Local students plan a summer of marine science and conservation
Students with the Teen Research Underwater Explorers (TRUE) youth science diving program, look forward to a busy summer schedule. The group will assist state and federal agencies with various research and conservation projects while educating government leaders and the public on the importance of their work.
August 01, 2011
TRUE was recognized by The US Environmental Protection Agency and was awarded with a Certificication of Appreciation in the Gulf Guardian Awards Program.
Marine Quest
On Saturday, Apr. 17, students volunteered at MarineQuest 2010, the annual open house at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. They helped educate the public on current and upcoming TRUE Dive Team events and projects, as well as aid with public safety and outreach.
C.H.O.W.
In June, the TRUE Dive Team, will travels to Washington D.C. for Capitol Hill Ocean Week and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s annual leadership awards dinner. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation recognizes the TRUE Dive Team for their volunteer marine conservation, education and outreach efforts. While in Washington, students meet with congressmen to explain the importance of TRUE’s conservation work.
Special Forces Underwater Operations School
In July, New TRUE members travel to Key West, Florida. The Explorers will have the opportunity to dive in shallow, clear water and learn research techniques such as habitat monitoring and fish survey methods. While in Key West, the team will train with instructors at the Special Forces Underwater Operations Combat School in advanced diving skills, such as navigation and search techniques.
Coral Spawning
With funding from NOAA, the TRUE Dive Team was the first to witness, monitor and document nursery-raised Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis spawn. Both species are listed as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act. This was possible by a partnership with Ken Nedimyer from the Coral Reef Foundation and the Florida Keys Dive Center.
In July/August 2012, the TRUE Explorers will once again work with the FWC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to document the spawning of elkhorn and staghorn corals in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
November 2009
TRUE had been awarded a US Environmental Protection Agency Gulf Guardian Award in Education. The award is for a project completed in the Gulf of Mexico, where the students acquired data for Dr. Jennifer Dupont’s doctoral dissertation. The project studied mitigation sites placed in sixty feet of water by Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems. The award will be presented at the Oceans ’09 Conference in Biloxi, MS on 29 October.
Press Release (2 Nov. 2009)
For more information on the Gulf Guardian Awards see: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/gulfguard.html
Aquarius
In addition, the Explorers have explored and entered Aquarius (a unique undersea research lab).
Scientific Methodologies
The TRUE Dive Team conducted extensive underwater surveys of the diverse assemblages of corals, sponges, macroinvertebrates, and fish that inhabit the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). Robust scientific methodologies are employed (e.g., benthic quadrats, digital photo-transect surveys, and visual censuses) and the data collected have been used to ground-truth satellite imagery and augment databases at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). The data collected by the TRUE Dive Team is currently being used by FWRI in mapping and studying the thousands of patch reefs found in the FKNMS.
Coral Reef Restoration (CRF)
TRUE Dive Team enjoys working with The Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and helping with their reef restoration projects.
Flower Garden Banks/Houston Space Center Expedition Aug 2011
This was a trip for our most Advanced Explorers, it included deep dives at the FGBNMS and Texas oil rigs.
Pinellas County Reef Clean Up 2011
The TRUE Dive Team collected over 90 lbs of trash during the Clearwater Artificial Reef cleanup.