UD’s annual Coast Day is Sunday, Oct. 5

2:10 p.m., Oct. 1, 2003--“Anchors Aweigh for an Ocean of Fun” is the theme for this year’s Coast Day celebration slated for 11 a.m.-–5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, at UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. Coast Day is free and open to the public. Parking is $2.

“Coast Day gives us a wonderful opportunity to educate thousands of people about the importance of the marine and coastal environment,” Carolyn Thoroughgood, dean of the College of Marine Studies, said. “This year, state and federal dignitaries will join us in celebrating the importance of estuaries to the nation and to Delaware. We also will be hosting a special exhibit on the Delaware River’s vital role in global commerce.”

Estuaries are found in coastal areas around the world, where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from upland rivers. This mixture of salt and fresh water creates a unique ecosystem that supports a diversity of plant and animal life—one of the most productive habitats on Earth.

Awards
After the estuary celebration, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will present Janice Trainer, a third-grade teacher at Etta J. Wilson Elementary School in Newark, with an award honoring her as the 2003 Governor’s Marine Science Teacher of the Year.

In addition, awards will be presented to the winners of the annual fifth-grade student essay contest and their teachers. The essay contest, with “A Day in the Life of a Delaware River Pilot” as this year’s theme, is designed to create ocean awareness in students throughout the state.

Education
A highlight of the day will be a special exhibit focusing on marine transportation. Visitors will learn how our lives and livelihood depend on this industry through hands-on activities, displays and exhibits by organizations such as the Delaware River & Bay Authority, Maritrans Inc., Port of Wilmington, Seaman’s Center of Wilmington and U.S. Maritime Administration.

UD marine policy faculty and students will be available to answer questions about their research on port security and environmental issues relating to shipping. In conjunction with this exhibit are two lecture series—“Marine Transportation” and “Our Maritime Heritage: Old Salts and New Science”—sponsored by Maritrans Operating Co. L.P. and DuPont, respectively.

Research
Another exhibit will highlight UD’s upcoming deep-sea expedition—Extreme2003: To the Depths of Discovery. During Extreme 2003, from Nov. 29–Dec. 21, UD marine scientists will use Alvin, the famous submersible that was used to investigate the wreck of the Titanic, to descend more than a mile into the deep to explore hydrothermal vents on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors will learn how they can travel along with the scientists through an interactive web site and about an educational project involving schoolchildren worldwide.

A recent research expedition led by UD marine scientists to the Black Sea, a 700-mile-long sea bordered by six countries, is the focus of another exhibit. Learn why scientists from all over the world are studying the chemistry and biology of this major inland sea, which connects Europe to Asia.

UD scientists and graduate students will have the opportunity to showcase their research on a large variety of marine topics through posters, laboratory tours, research demonstrations and hands-on activities. There will be exhibits on remote sensing, marine transportation, global observing systems, fisheries, jellyfish, other unusual organisms from the sea and much more.

Educators will find many valuable resources and ideas for introducing marine science to the classroom. At the Education Tent, Trainer, the 2003 Governor’s Marine Science Teacher of the Year, and Rob Adams and his students from Polytech High School in Woodside will lead hands-on activities to teach participants about the ocean and estuaries.

Children’s activities
Many activities are specially designed to capture the interest of children. They can participate in the Coast Day Treasure Hunt, which guides them through the events of the day as they search for the answers to questions about marine science in the many displays and exhibits.

Fish printing, designing a shell necklace to wear and creating a book to take home are just some of the many marine-related crafts for kids. And everybody will have a chance to test their crab bait against that of UD scientists in the ever-popular “Great Crab Race,” an activity that educates visitors about the region’s most treasured crustacean—the blue crab.

Seafood cook-off
This year marks the 14th year that contestants in the crab cake cook-off will use their special recipes in hopes of making “Delaware’s Best Crab Cakes.” Seafood-chowder lovers will get the chance to vote for their favorite in the annual Seafood Chowder Challenge—a friendly competition between two local chefs’ associations. A variety of seafood culinary presentations will be given, with recipes that feature clams and local fish.

Those supporting Coast Day include A Lasting Impression, Bank of Delmarva, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DuPont, Maritrans Operating Co. L.P. and SPI Pharma.

For more information, call the UD Marine Public Education Office at 831-8083 or visit the Coast Day web site at [www.ocean.udel.edu/CoastDay].

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