AFSC Outreach: NOAA's Earth Week Fair 2005
Budding artists: Children at the NOAA Earth Week Fair learned how to make a fish print by pressing a painted fish to paper, with the help of NOAA Fisheries Service staff |
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With one hand in a "blubber mitt" and the other hand in a "no-blubber mitt," children and adults experienced how blubber keeps marine mammals warm in icy water. |
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Two NOAA Earth Week Fair participants try on immersion suits |
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As part of NOAA's Earth Week Fair held in April 2005 in Seattle, Washington, the public received a special opportunity to explore the many kinds of science that NOAA researchers are conducting every day around the world and in the community.
Cosponsored with Seattle Parks and Recreation and held at the Magnuson Park Community Center (next door to NOAA's Western Regional Center), the fair offered many hands-on science activities and informational booths staffed by employees from nine different NOAA groups representing five offices:
- NOAA Fisheries Service (also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service)
- NOAA's National Weather Service
- NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations
- NOAA Ocean Service
- NOAA Research Service (also known as the office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research)
The NOAA Fisheries Service booths, staffed by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), had several hands-on activities attracting fair-goers. At the AFSC/NWFSC booth, children tried their hand at estimating fish populations using beans to represent fish sampled in a catch and explored their artistic side making fish prints by pressing painted fish on paper.
At the AFSC's Marine Mammal booth, children and adults alike used "blubber mitts" to see how blubber keeps marine mammals warm in ice water and learned how baleen is used by whales to filter food from the water.
At the NWFSC Center for Oceans and Human Health booth, fair participants learned how toxins are found in oysters and how watersheds are affected by pollutants from different sources.
The National Weather Service's Seattle/Tacoma Forecasting Office educated fair-goers about weather forecasting and released a weather balloon with help of several volunteers.
The NOAA Dive Center displayed their high tech dive gear and the Marine Operations Center - Pacific showcased NOAA's research vessels.
The Office of Response and Restoration illustrated how habitat and coastal resources are restored after pollution.
The Office of Coast Survey showed how charts are made and used to promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sound navigation.
The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory explained how tsunamis worked and used a Van Graaf machine to illustrate how to stay safe around lightning.
More than 150 people attended the fair, and all participants expressed enthusiasm about NOAA science! Thanks to all the NOAA employees and volunteers who made the fair a huge success!
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