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Earth Day
The
Atlantic Ecology Division has attended the Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management's Conservation
Week and the Earth Day Festival at the Roger
Williams Park Zoo 
in
Providence, Rhode Island for the last several years. In 2002 and 2003,
AED exhibited our newest coastal research vessel, a 17 foot Boston Whaler
as part of a field equipment display. Visitors were able to climb aboard
the boat and get a close look at a working research vessel and our techniques
for sediment, water quality, and plankton sampling. We also had a poster
and brochure table which included information on current AED research,
the Coastal 2000 program, sunflower seeds, key chains, neck bands for
ID badges or glasses, and educational materials on environmental topics
for teachers and children.
In previous years, the AED exhibit included our "petting tank," featuring starfish, spider crabs, rock crabs, windowpane flounder, horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, and seaweed local to Narragansett Bay. This tank has always been a huge success, because it is the only exhibit where children and adults can learn about local marine life as they hold them in their hands. We have also featured a microscope display table where people can feed mysid shrimp and view Artemia, fish embryos & larvae and phytoplankton.