The College of William & Mary’s Batten School and Virginia Institute of Marine Science will hold its 24th annual Marine Science Day from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at the Gloucester Point campus. The open house gives the public a view of exhibits, participate in activities and take tours, all free of charge.
“There are lots and lots of opportunities to see some cool stuff,” said event organizer and VIMS Associate Director of Outreach & Engagement Kristen Sharpe.
This year’s Marine Science Day will include even more exhibits and activities for families, a marine science trivia game administered by Mega Awesome Trivia and an extended marine-themed career fair.
“We’re trying to add more and more,” said Sharpe.
Although parking is limited on the VIMS campus, there will be a school bus shuttle service at Woodville Park that is scheduled to run all day every 10-15 minutes. It is free to use.
“We’ve just really outgrown our parking situation,” said Sharpe.
VIMS has even created a GPS-enabled interactive map so visitors can easily find events and activities, vendors, restrooms, shuttle locations and more.
From viewing Chesapeake Bay creatures up close to examining specimens from around the world, there is something for everyone to get excited about.
“It’s just a really unique experience,” said Sharpe.
In timed events, the Marine-Related Career Fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Hargis Library; the Marine Life Costume Contest Parade and Award Ceremony will be held from 11-11:30 a.m. in the Watermen’s Hall Visitors Center lobby; and Marine Science Trivia will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Davis Hall.
Fish Gut Content Analysis demonstrations will be performed every hour on the quarter-hour from 10:15 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. in the Fish Processing Lab. Each demonstration will last for 20 minutes.
Awards for the costume contest will be awarded to the most original plant or animal, most creative use of sustainable materials, best group costume and best representation of a plant or animal. There will also be a grand prize.
“We have lots of exhibits this year,” said Sharpe.
These exhibits include Acuff Center for Aquaculture tours, Algal Evolutionary Ecology at VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory, The Aquaculture Collective, Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center, Aquatic Health, Biosensors Lab Tour: How Mice Can Help Us Detect Oil Spill Pollution, Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs, Claw & Order: Disease Ecology Unit, CBNERR-VA presents: D.R.O.P. with Splash!, CCRM presents: Innovation and Crowd Sourced Data to Restore the Bay, Computer Models in Marine Science, The Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL), Fairfield Foundation, Green Team, Invertebrate Collection, Multispecies Research Group, Nunnally Ichthyology (Fish) Collection, NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, Operation: Fish Edition, Oyster Insights, Plastic Pollution, Sampling the Next Generation (Fish Recruitment Survey), The Virginia Clean Marina Program, Virginia Sea Grant and Zooplankton: Weird and Wonderful Drifters.
The BeyondPhotos DC interactive photobooth, fish printing craft, Mandie’s Fancy Faces, shark and fish craft station, shellfish farming station, and Society for Women in Marine Science photobooth have all been designated as activities for families.
In outdoor exhibits and activities, guests can enjoy the Carl Hershner Interpretive Teaching Marsh, Coastal Forest Boardwalk, Exploring the York River: Seining and Collecting Animals, Ken Borkey Native Plant and Pollinator Garden, Scientific Diving Demonstration, Seagrass Greenhouse Tours and Vessel Tours.
Those who are planning to go in the water for seining are encouraged to bring towels and a change of clothes and shoes in case there are not enough waders to go around.
Food and treat vendors will also be on site. They include Burgers on the Edge, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Dominion Dogs, Kona Ice Hampton, O’ How Sweet Cotton Candy, and Rove & Revel Mobile Café.
“Right now, it looks fantastic in terms of weather,” said Sharpe. “We will be here rain or shine.”
For more information, visit vims.edu/engage/msd.