Rigs 2 Reefs: A Blue Solution to Repurpose Offshore Rigs
| Hours: | 7:00 PM |
| Ages: | Teens, Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor |
| Cost: | Free see below |
| Category: | Lectures/Discussions |
When large, hulking oil and gas platforms come to their useful end, new efforts to convert them into artificial coral reefs are proving successful.
In California, 27 of these platforms off the coast have already become massive reefs, and a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences has concluded that “…the oil and gas platforms off California are among the most productive habitats globally.”
As the world’s natural coral reefs are being overfished, over-trawled, and polluted, re-purposing these structures underwater – some of which are as large as New York City’s Empire State Building – into artificial reefs are helping provide alternate habitats for marine plants and animals so they can teem with new life.
Called Rig2Reef, research is being conducted in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and California.
In Malaysia, an expedition set out to explore the ecological and economic benefits to local communities when they turn offshore platforms into eco-tourism destinations.
The hope is to replicate the conversion throughout Southeast Asia.
WHEN: The lecture: “Rigs to Reefs: A Blue Solution to Repurpose the World’s Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms” will be Thursday, Sept.
29 at 7 p.m.
WHO: Emily Callahan and Amber Jackson are co-founders of Blue Latitudes, the organization exploring and implementing the Rig2Reef concept.
Callahan is a marine conservation biologist, oil and gas consultant, and explorer who worked as a field technician on the BP 252 Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
That is where she witnessed firsthand the destruction and devastation of an oil spill but also the potential for creating an environmental benefit and unique ecosystem out of former oil and gas platforms.
She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Jackson is an oceanographer, environmental scientist, and entrepreneur.
Her specialty is to use technology to find solutions for science and communication.
A former ocean curator at Google, she engineered and launched intelligent map layers in Google Maps, in partnership with the Sylvia Earle Alliance, that distill and relate complex concepts in ocean science for many audiences.
A former National Science Foundation Researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, she wanted to explore using artificial habitats to solve problems around the degradation of natural habitats so Rig2Reef is a good example of her interest.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
WHERE: New England Aquarium Simons IMAX Theatre, Central Wharf, Boston
HOW: Pre-registration is encouraged on the Aquarium’s website, http://www.neaq.org/learn/lectures/upcoming-lectures/%20 or call 617-973-5200 for more information.
NOTE: The Aquarium hosts a series of informative free lectures, films, and discussions for the community this fall.
The Lowell Institute supports the lectures.
Most are available on the Aquarium’s YouTube channel afterward.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tony LaCasse, tlacasse@neaq.org; 617-877-6871 or Diana McCloy, diana@teakmedia.com; 978-697-9414
| COST | ↑ top |
FREE
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
www.neaq.org/learn/lectures/upcoming-lectures/
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02128 map
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
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