I live on Shoreham Beach in the UK which is a nature reserve with a globally rare habitat called vegetated shingle. Concerned about the damage that global issues such as climate change and pollution might have on my beach I am visiting scientists and experts around the world to find out more about these conservation issues. During my travels I have also encountered some amazing wildlife and also met people helping the ocean. I share my experiences through this blog and by visiting schools.
We have
returned again this year to the Big Bang South East Stem Science Fair in
Sussex, UK. It is great to see how stem science is really growing in Sussex –
this year there were almost 9000 children and teachers. Wow.
We brought
an updated display showing Ed the Bear’s travels to scientists and other
organisations around the world to learn about ocean science and human impact on
the oceans. However, the display is really a celebration of how amazing the ocean
is, providing 50% of the oxygen we breathe, freshwater, 15% of our food, new
medicines, renewable energy, wellbeing and much more.
The display stand
provides examples of some of the amazing animals and people that Ed the Bear has
encountered on his travels with photographs of Ed sitting with penguins on
Antarctic ice, diving on coral reefs and ship wrecks, coming face to face with
great white sharks and much more.
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We also
included our demonstration of ocean acidification. The oceans absorb 25% of the
carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere. This is now changing the water
chemistry of the ocean threatening creatures that build their shells and bodies
from calcium. carbonate.
In our
demonstration we put a sea shell in vinegar which slowly dissolves during the
day. Creatures in the ocean are not dissolving, but they are struggling to
access the calcium carbonate to build their shells and we are seeing thinner
shells and even deformed shells that can make it easier for a predator to break
through to eat the occupant.
We also had
a display and activity based around plastic pollution.
An activity using rice (representing
food) and lentils (representing plastic) to demonstrate the problems of micro-plastics.
We even find plastic in the bodies of plankton. Tiny pieces of plastic can also
absorb other pollutants increasing the risk to the oceans wildlife.
Ed the Bear
wears a necklace made from a scientists ring band. A scientist placed it on the
leg of an albatross chick which sadly died from swallowing plastic. Ed uses the
necklace to share his experiences of the plight of these majestic birds.
We also set up a display of live inter-tidal invertebrates from our local beach and using a USB microscope cam displaying them on a screen
It was an
amazing day with lots on excitement, enthusiasm and interest from the children.
Our go home message was that the ocean will be an increasing focus for stem
related careers to help us understand our planet or help solve the many threats
to our planets continued health.
You can find out more about our schools programme and how you can organise a visit from Ed the Bear by contacting us on the email address below.
Seawatch17@yahoo.co.uk
The Adventures of Ed the Bear, photographs and all materials are (c) Steve Savage or other named persons/organisations. Photographs and materials are available for educational use
A SHARED LOVE OF THE OCEAN
One of the main things that Ed the Bear and I have in common is our love for the ocean. We are also both very concerned about the damage that is being done to the oceans and marine wildlife by human activities.
Ed the Bears adventures begin at his local beach the Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve. The beach was designated a nature reserve to protect the local and globally rare habitat ‘vegetated shingle’. This is made up of over 90 different types of special plants that grow on the beach and provide a home for a wide range of wildlife such as birds, butterflies, bees and lizards.
Ed discovered that this beach was threatened by global issues such as climate change. Ed begins his adventures to find out more about these dangers and how they might affect his beach. On the way he encounters some amazing wildlife.
ED TRAVELS THE OCEANS
Back in November 2009, Ed the Bear was first invited to visit different locations around the world and travelled through much of 2010. He has been reporting back on his experiences on this weblog.
Ed the Bear has shared his experiences about the amazing wildlife he has encountered and the people he has met on the way. He has been investigating the damage to ocean habitats and also the things that people are doing to help repair this damage.
Ed the Bear will soon be travelling again in 2011. To find out more about his travels check out the various entries on this weblog. To find out more about why Ed has been traveling the world you will soon be able to follow a link to another Ed the Bear weblog.
We often hear about how we should save energy and water, recycle our rubbish. The focus of this is how we will suffer if we keep treating the planet in an un-stainable way. While this is true, it is the ocean wildlife that will suffer first which it terribly unfair as they do not create these problems. So Ed will also be reporting back on the beautiful marine habitats and wildlife he encounters. Just seeing these animals sums up far better than any words why we need to protect the oceans and of course in doing so we will also be helping our own futures. When Ed is in the UK he will be available to visit schools to pass on what he has discovered during his travels
I hope you will follow my expedition around the world to investigate the threats to the oceans and ulitmately to my own local beach. Many of the threats, such as global warming, have a far reaching affect as oceans play a major role in controlling the world climate and weather. Global warming is also killing coral reefs and damaging marine food webs.
Many species of marine fish are being overfished and marine litter kills thousands of seabirds, sea mammals and other marine life every year. As part of my journey I will be staying with organisations and individuals to find out what they are doing to tackle these issue.
As well as investigating these environmental issues I also hope to see some of the worlds most beautiful habitats and see amazing wildlife up close such as whales, sharks, sealions, turtles and much, much more.
At the start of my journey I have shared some of my experiences of the coast and marine life near where I live as this has been the inspiration behind my expedition so do check out my earlier messages too.
Please leave me a message about your thoughts and views by adding a comment to my web messages.
Map of Ed's Travels
Ed's route around the world
SPONSORS OF ED'S ADVENTURES
Every expedition has sponsors and my sponsors are listed below.
*Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve
*National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
*Ed Williams, creater of Ed the Bears diving bell
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