Your Invite to the 2011 Invitational!

On 13th of August we will again host the Alaska SeaLife Center Invitational - the event is now well established as a feature of the Seward social calendar and coincides with the first day of the famous Seward Silver Salmon Derby - this is our 12th successive invitational!!  You can obtain full details and register directly on the ASLC website - http://www.alasksealife.org/.

So whats new and different this year?
First up, the event has a new patron.  Alaska's Lt. Governor, Mead Treadwell has kindly agreed to serve as the event patron and will be bringing several family members with him this year to help us sample the first day of the famous Silver Silver Salmon Derby!
Next up, we have arranged a bountiful banquet and several fun activities (no boring speeches - promise) - similar to the Fish for the Future dinner in 2009, but with a greater family emphasis.  This year we will also feature some very engaging entertainment, including well known Alaskan singer and songwriter, Amy Hettinger (see http://www.amyloumusic.com/) and have planned various facility tours and interactive dinner activities that should prove entertaining for all ages!
Finally, we have an amazing array of auction items and prizes that highlight the unique role that the Alaska SeaLife Center plays in helping Alaskans understand the marine ecosystems of the North Pacific.
To secure your sponsorship, your fishing spot or your table please contact Lexie Mizeras at (907) 644-6717 or lexiem@alaskasealife.org. 

I really hope you can join us for this premier event.

Highlights of Coastal America's 20th Anniversary in Chicago

The Coastal America partnership brings together people and resources from federal agencies, state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to collaboratively address our nation's coastal environmental challenges. 

The Alaska SeaLife Center is one of 24 Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELCs) who parter with government agencies, the community and the private sector on science programs and who provide education, outreach and community engagement opportunities.  CELCs are located throughout the US and in Canada and Mexico, thus enabling a continental approach to coastal and marine programs.

The beautiful Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan waterfront from the Shedd Aquarium
The Coastal America partnership celebrated its 20th anniversary last week in conjunction with the biennial Coastal Zone 2011 Conference in Chicago.  I had the privilege to represent the ASLC and participated in several partnership discussions, culminating in a family day and conference dinner at the  magnificent Shedd aquarium (another CELC).  One of the highlights of the day was a live broadcast by the Jason Project who bought together various Coastal America partners as well as three student groups who participated in last years National Student Summit in DC.  You can catch a replay of the broadcast on the Jason project website (which is also linked with another CELC, the Mystic Aquarium):
http://www.jason.org/science/Live/coastal2/jason/event.aspx.

Despite the oppressive heat in Chicago, it was truly inspirational to spend time with other CELC colleagues and partners in this very successful venture and reflect both on where we have been over the past 20 years and, more importantly, to consider where we are going.  Not surprisingly, the new National Ocean Policy was  dominant theme of those discussions.  Clearly CELCs can and should play a key role in helping the public at large to understand and contribute to new oceans initiatives and to the implementation of new policy and science activities.  Already, the Centers are proposing to initiate a series of quarterly national coastal conversations around key issues such as ocean acidification... those efforts will be key to improving ocean literacy and developing a stronger national oceans constituency.

As I flew back to Alaska, and reflected on the conference, I wondered what the 2031 Coastal America video might look like.  The answer to that question seems to depend pretty much on our ability to inspire the interest of the American people in our oceans... the good news is that we at the Alaska SeaLife Center are uniquely placed to do that and our efforts are strengthened by linking arms with our peers and partners through ventures such as Coastal America!