NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — January 6, 2014 — The Ocean Explorium will open its doors for the first of two complimentary Family Science Nights on Thursday, January 16, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. This event is related to the new exhibit "Life, Smoke, and Fire – Underwater: Deep Sea Vents Explored" which includes artifacts from expeditions to the deep sea floor as well as special Science on a Sphere® presentations.
During Family Science Night, visitors will have an opportunity to meet an Ocean Engineer, Dr. James Kinsey, from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Kinsey specializes in underwater navigation and surveying the deep sea with robotic vehicles.
The Ocean Explorium's own Explorer in Residence, Rhonda Moniz, will also be on hand. Ms. Moniz is founder and director of operations for Benthic Exploration, a company that specializes in marine technology including ROV, AUV, side scan, and sub-bottom profiling technology.
There will also be hands-on activities and a live telephone call to the research vessel Atlantis on-site over the East Pacific Rise, part of the mid-ocean ridge about 600 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. A communication link will be established with the scientists and engineers who are using the remotely-operated vehicle, Jason II, to explore and study deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Dr. Stefan Sievert, Chief Scientist on the expedition, will answer questions about life in the dark, deep sea.
Find more information about Dr. Sievert's research expedition at http://divediscover.whoi.edu/; find more information about the the Ocean Explorium and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution outreach project at http://divediscover.whoi.edu/sos.
Family Science Night is made possible through funding from the National Science Foundation.
The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance. Winter hours are Thursday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission is $8.50-adults, $7.00-seniors and students with I.D., $6.50-children between 3 and 17 years of age. Children under 3 and members are free.
Visit oceanexplorium.org or call 508.994.5400 for program schedules, directions or other information.