OMSI Science Pub Eugene: Antarctica

Diving Antarctica: Exploring the Underwater Ecosystems of the Southern Ocean

With Paul North, Polar Expedition Diver & Director of Meet the Ocean

September 12, 2019 | 6:30-8:30PM; Doors open @ 5PM | $5 Suggested Donation
 

In the cold, dark waters of the Southern Ocean exists a biological landscape unlike any other on our planet. It begins with a density of single-celled algae so large they can be seen from space. Next, come the krill, an army of crustaceans bent on harvesting the photosynthetic organisms that cloud the water. What then eats the krill? The answer is basically all the creatures that call Antarctica home.

In this talk, polar expedition diver Paul North will journey through the trophic levels of the Antarctic food web. Exampling macro dive footage of the invertebrates that dominate the sea floor. Plankton filmed in the water column and under microscope. R.O.V. footage from depths of 300+ feet, swimming penguins, and predatory encounters with several different marine mammal species. All to highlight the resiliency and unexpectedness of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, so that we may better understand and protect it.

Paul North is the director of Meet the Ocean – an educational nonprofit devoted to educating the public on the importance of our planet’s saltwater ecosystems. He has logged over 200 dives in the Southern Ocean working as Undersea Specialist with Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic. Combining storytelling and science, Meet the Ocean releases a monthly podcast to blend education with entertainment to awaken audiences to the realities facing the oceans of our planet.

Science Pub Eugene is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No RSVP or scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks, and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.