The Yas SeaWorld® Research & Rescue Center, the largest dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center in the region, recently hosted a special Science Talkfeaturing the renowned ProfJohn Burt, Associate Professor of Biology and Program Head for Environmental Studies at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)and an editor of the reference book ‘A Natural History of the Emirates’, published in open access by SpringerNaturethis year.
Claudia Steuber, Chair of the Emirates Natural History Group in Abu Dhabi, kicked off the event with a quick introduction at 6:30pmbefore ProfBurttook the floor and dived deeper into his book which provides an overview of the evolution of the natural history movement in the Emirates, and discussing how the physical setting of the UAE – it’s geography, climate and marine setting – structure life across this young nation. Towards the end of the evening, the floor was open for Q&As.
Dr. Elise Marquis, Director of the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center said, “We are very pleased to host Prof John Burt as he brings his years of valuable experience and insights on stage for this monthly Science Talk, in line with our efforts to make marine life education more accessible to the public of all ages.”
The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center boasts a cutting-edge marine ecology lab, uniquely equipped to fine-tune and control all environmental conditions to understand the impacts of different stressors on the organisms’ physiology. The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center is collaborating with ProfBurt’s NYUAD team, focusing on coral ecology in the UAE.
Corals globally face heat stress due to rising temperatures, but Gulf corals exhibit remarkable resilience. Understanding the Gulf corals’ heat tolerance is crucial for predicting the future of reefs worldwide. As such, Prof Burt and his team have been monitoring Abu Dhabi corals’ recovery from last summer’s bleaching event, caused by high temperatures.
An innovative experimental study is also taking place in the Center and undergoing a two-month experiment mimicking Gulf summer conditions and measuring photosynthesis activity of the corals. The findings, to be published in top scientific journals, aim to aid global coral protection efforts.
The Center hosts three tours per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4:30pm to 5:30pmguided by members of the education team where guests can enjoy in-depth orientations of the Center’s facilities and public offerings.
To find out more about Science Talks at the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, please visit:https://www.seaworldabudhabi.com/en/research-and-rescue/science-talk-series
To book a guided tour of the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, please visit:https://www.seaworldabudhabi.com/en/research-and-rescue/guided-tour.
