Star Island’s Place in the Cosmos

The Cosmos
Each morning “the sky guy” John Gianforte http://www.theskyguy.org will present on earth’s place in the cosmos. John is the Director of the University of New Hampshire Observatory, and Astronomy Instructor at UNH. He is also a Science Writer, and Adjunct Faculty member at Granite State College, where he teaches Modern Astronomy and Experimental Physics.

Monday – The Gulf of Maine Ecosystem – River Fish Runs
John Banks, a Penobscot Nation tribal citizen, was the first Director of Natural Resources for his tribe. He will talk about the Penobscot River Restoration Project, and its impact on the ecological health of the Penobscot River watershed and the Gulf of Maine.

Tuesday – Shells, Sharks and More
T.J. Cullinane will talk about the shells, sharks and other typical Gull species. He is the Outreach Coordinator for the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach, a Member of Massachusetts Marine Educators, a Trustee of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry New Hampshire, and a Commissioner of the Derry Heritage Commission.

Wednesday – Connecting Environmental and Human Health
Executive Director Dr. Charles Rolsky, of the Shaw Institute, Blue Hill, Maine, will be talking about the Environmental and Human Health of the Gulf of Maine region and beyond. Exploring the connection between environmental health, which is human health.

Thursday – Turning Science into Action
The Gulf of Maine can produce environmentally friendly sustainable products. This afternoon’s talk will discuss some of those products brought to market, or in development, such as  sunscreen from kelp, kelp production and harvesting, eel growth in on-shore facilities, and harvesting invasive green crabs for food.

Friday – Power Up with Batteries
Rodney Dixon, retired Lab Manager and current adjunct professor of chemistry at Towson University in Maryland, will give a presentation and general overview of concepts in battery and fuel cell science and technology, with some specific examples to illustrate those concepts. Sustainability issues related to the use of these technologies will be discussed.

Saturday – Low Tide Walk and Marine Mammal ObservationGet your feet wet! Aravis Albert from the Seacoast Science Center will take us on a walk along the island’s shore at low tide, with a hands-on collection of tide pool organisms, and then a professionally lead Rutledge Marine Lab visit to see the touch tanks and discuss the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem. After the Marine Lab presentation, we will go onboard the MV Shining Star for a naturalist guided trip to see the local harbor seal population.