Work of Bermuda scientists to be highlighted at New York event

Sarah Lagan

Created: Oct 08, 2022 07:15 AM

Choy Aming, principal investigator for the Bermuda Shark Project, swims with a tiger shark (Photograph supplied)

Bermuda’s ocean explorers and their research will be highlighted at an upcoming event in New York.

The Atlantic Conservation Partnership, a sister organisation to the Bermuda Zoological Society, in partnership with The Explorers Club NYC, will host Heart of the Sargasso Sea: Bermuda's Marine Conservation on October 13 at The Explorers Club headquarters.

Four Bermuda scientists will give presentations: David Freestone, executive secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission; Gaëlle Roth, director of the Bermuda Turtle Project; Choy Aming, principal investigator for the Bermuda Shark Project; and Nan Hauser, president and director of the Centre for Cetacean Research and Conservation, and lead scientist of Cook Islands Whale Research.

David Freestone, executive secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission (Photograph supplied)

A spokeswoman for the event said: “The evening will highlight some of the marine research and field conservation efforts in the Bermuda, US and Caribbean's shared oceanic ecosystem to raise awareness of our ocean's beauty and fragility.

“Four scientists and field researchers will make live presentations during this special evening and Bermuda-themed cocktails and dinner will be served.”

Nan Hauser, president and director of the Centre for Cetacean Research and Conservation, and lead scientist of Cook Islands Whale Research (Photograph supplied)

Gaëlle Roth, director of the Bermuda Turtle Project (Photograph supplied)

There will also be a visual presentation by whale researcher Andrew Stevenson. He will summarise three University of Edinburgh postgraduate papers focused on humpback whales in Bermuda using data collected by Whales Bermuda.

The spokeswoman added: “It includes a catalogue of more than 1,500 humpback whales identified by their unique black-and-white pigmentation patterns on their tails, known as fluke IDs, and re-sighting data over ten years.

“Andrew's pioneering study examines the need for a new Area-based Management Tool for cetacean conservation in Bermuda and the evidence to support its designation as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.”

The event begins at 6pm with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, lectures begin at 7pm and dinner is from 8pm.

The event takes place at the Explorers Club Headquarters, 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021.

Visit bit.ly/3BplU7G for more details or to purchase tickets.