Just in time for World Oceans Day on June 7, artist/conservationist Joshua Sam Miller is showing his new 25-minute film “Sounds of the Ocean.” To raise awareness about ocean issues, Miller has offered planetariums around the world a one-week free license to show his film during June. Some of the planetariums taking him up on his offer include Juneau, Alaska’s Marie Drake Planetarium and Uruguay’s Planetario de Montevideo. Check out this list of all the planetariums showing Miller’s film, and learn more about it below.
“Sounds of the Ocean” combines original music, whale and dolphin sounds, art, and ocean imagery to take viewers on an underwater journey. The filmmakers want to demonstrate that oceans are worth protecting.
Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds
“Believing in the power of peaceful activism, the project’s intention is to inspire ocean action to protect life underwater, while also helping to reduce stress in our modern society,” an official statement about the film explains.
Miller, the film’s director, grew up surfing and scuba diving. He founded Embodied Sounds, which offers several different types of immersive experiences. These experiences include live music shows, multimedia performances featuring dance, art, and marine life sounds, and, trippiest of all, an underwater music experience offered in heated pools at some spas. Miller’s work has been featured everywhere, from an installation at Burning Man to a presentation during the 26th United Nations Climate Conference.
Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds
U.N. World Oceans Day traces its history back to 1992, when Oceans Day was first declared at the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations officially designated World Oceans Day in 2008. It’s grown since and is usually celebrated around the world on June 8. However, this year, the date is June 7. This 2024 theme is “Awaken New Depths.”
Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds
As it says in the 2024 World Oceans Day trailer, “As humans, we depend on the ocean for survival. But compared to what it gives us, we invest little in return.” Instead of continuing to make shallow, short-sighted decisions, World Oceans Day urges humans to conserve the ocean before it’s too late. On June 7, you can join virtually from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT as global policymakers, scientists, activists, and artists discuss how humans can better protect oceans. And look for Sounds of the Ocean coming to a planetarium near you.
Do you think bats are just creepy poster children for Halloween? They’re so much more! These flying mammals pollinate plants. They eat pesky mosquitoes and other bugs, saving American farmers billions annually on pesticides.
More than 1,400 species of bats live around the world, with about 46 species calling the United States home. And this is their week. International Bat Week runs from October 24 to 31, culminating in the day most folks are likeliest to think about these fascinating critters. Here are some fun bat facts to help you celebrate. Once you get to know bats, you might even start to think they’re kind of cute.
The evocative title of Chris Bertish’s books says a lot. When I read the title “All In!: The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing – 93 Days Alone at Sea,” I got an inkling of what I was in for. There would be weather, loneliness, waves, problems, and probably sharks. And, since Bertish obviously survived to write the book, inspiration. I was right! But it’s still worth reading the book for the stories and motivational tidbits.
The journey Bertish chronicles in “All In!” took place from December 2016 to March 2017, when he paddled more than 4,000 miles alone from Morocco to Antigua. He became the first person to ever stand-up paddleboard across an ocean. But Bertish was no stranger to firsts and awards. He was already a big wave surfing champ with multiple world records. When he’s not in the water, Bertish is addressing giant companies like Google, Coke, and Salesforce as a motivational speaker.
Photo by Brian Overfeld
While Bertish clearly has superhuman strength and a need to embrace challenges most of us would pay everything to avoid, he’s also driven by philanthropy. His grueling 93-day paddle raised over half a million dollars for Operation Smile. This global nonprofit provides free cleft palate surgery for children. Bertish also raised money to support ocean conservation initiatives.
Of course, the first question a reader probably has is, “How does a person cross an ocean on a SUP?” I can barely paddle my inflatable SUP across a small lake on a slightly windy day. But Bertish’s 20-foot craft, the Impifish, was named for Zulu warriors called Impis. This extra-long SUP had a tiny cabin that Bertish could curl up in to escape the elements. The SUP was tricked out with a ton of high-tech communication gear, including GPS, VHF radio, Echomax, an emergency position indicating radio beacon, and a satellite phone, to name just a few. Gearheads will love this book for the tech alone.
Photo by Alan van Gysen
While the book is full of exciting tales, it’s also a bit repetitive — just like 93 days of paddling would be. There’s a pattern of disaster followed by motivational insight, and repeat. Storm! Ah, survived. Great white shark! Ah, survived it. Crucial equipment malfunction! Survived again. You can see why all the big companies want Bertish to speak to them. The man doesn’t give up or take no for an answer.
As he says at one point early in the book, “People will make up every possible excuse not to do something, or give you a whole laundry list of the reasons why they ‘can’t.’ You can always find plenty of reasons if you look for them, but instead you should be finding reasons why you ‘can.’ Focus on that and then find a way to accomplish it. If you believe you can’t you won’t, but if you believe you can, and you want it badly enough, you will always find a way. It’s that simple, period.”
The thing that irked me most about the book was an unsolved mystery. Before Bertish set out on the Impifish, some unidentified entity tried to prevent his SUP journey. Somebody sabotaged his car, messed with arrangements for his gear and food, and, most horribly of all, killed his cat. This still makes me sick to contemplate, especially since the mystery angle of the story was dropped. The reader never finds out who did these horrible things or why.
The paperback version of “All In” debuted in July. In line with Bertish’s conservation ideals, the book is printed on Forest Steward Certified paper. He also released a super limited edition eco series of only 13 copies. These 100% sustainable books are printed on 40% post-consumer recycled paper with soy and water-based inks. The binding features eco-cotton thread and non-toxic water-based glues. The book’s cover is, fittingly, made using recycled ocean plastics.
The victorious finish! / Photo by Brian Overfeld
Writer received a free copy of the book for review.
September 22 is World Rhino Day! This holiday not only recognizes just how incredible these animals are but also advocates for their conservation.
According to Dr. Jo Shaw, CEO of Save the Rhino International, “On World Rhino Day it is important to reflect on the successes and challenges of rhino conservation globally.” Some of the recent rhino conservation successes include an increase in global rhino numbers. At the end of 2022, the world rhino population reached 27,000.
Still, there is more work to be done to save threatened rhino species. Learn more about these creatures and how you can help them with the list of rhino facts below.
World Ocean Day is June 8, and the coastal city of Townsville in Northeastern Queensland, Australia, is doing something special to celebrate. The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) will be opening its new Ocean Sentinel snorkel trail.
The MOUA aims to inspire reef conservation by providing underwater experiences that engage people in cultural stories of the land and sea. The new snorkel trail consists of eight sculptures. These hybrids of human and natural marine forms represent marine conservationists — the ocean sentinels in the installation’s title. Most of the sentinels depicted are Australian.
“The stylised marine forms that surround and envelop them represent their particular field of study and expertise,” sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor explained in a statement. “The artworks aim to create an educational and informative introduction to Great Barrier Reef, celebrating its rich history and its connection to some of the world’s leading marine science institutions and its strong links to indigenous cultures and traditions.”
Workers move one of the sentinels. / Photo courtesy of MOUA
The artist is also an environmentalist and professional underwater photographer. Most of his work explores submerged and tidal marine environments.
deCaires Taylor sculpted the sentinels from a new high-grade, low-carbon concrete reinforced with marine stainless steel. Each sculpture is about 7 feet tall and weighs up to 2.8 tonnes. A low center of gravity helps each piece resist the ocean’s pull. The submerged sculptures will be set on barren stretches of the Great Barrier Reef off Townsville. deCaires Taylor hopes that, over time, marine life such as corals and sponges will colonize the artworks.
“Like the Great Barrier Reef itself, they will become a living and evolving part of the ecosystem, emphasising both its fragility and its endurance.”
The new Ocean Sentinel installation is MOUA’s third art project installation around Townsville. Ocean Siren, the first MOUA project, is not underwater but stands alongside Townsville’s Strand Jetty. The sculpture changes color in response to water temperature variations. Divers and snorkelers can also visit deCaires Taylor’s Coral Greenhouse, about a two-hour boat ride off the coast from Townsville.
deCaires Taylor stands beside one of his sentinels. / Photo courtesy of MOUA
An up-close look at animal rehabilitation efforts.
Endangered and threatened species along Texas’s Gulf Coast have gained a new ally in the Port of Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue. On March 2, the Texas State Aquarium hosted a Grand Opening event for the center. The 26,000-square-foot facility is the state’s largest rescue center and ranks among the largest rescue centers in the United States.
The opening event celebrated a major step in the state’s wildlife conservation efforts. As Jesse Gilbert, Texas State Aquarium President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The new center’s mission is conserving wildlife and developing science advocates to build a resilient Texas Gulf Coast. This is an incredible place where you can come and have a great experience with your family while also experiencing first-hand the phenomenal science and conservation efforts happening here in Texas.”
State-of-the-art veterinary medical equipment, an emergency operations center, and Texas’s only CAT scan used specifically for wildlife will aid the center’s team as it works to support animals. Visitors can explore the center for free to watch as professional treat and care for animals in need.
What exactly can visitors expect to see at the center? As Gilbert explained in an interview with Texas Public Radio, “if a turtle comes in and it’s been hit by a boat, you could watch the veterinarians do X-rays and CT scans. You could watch a surgery happen live. There’s windows into all the different treatment areas, the surgery areas. And you can literally come back and continue to watch that turtle’s recovery and rehabilitation up until the point it’s released.”
This immersive experience sits adjacent to the Texas State Aquarium and replaces the facilities previously located on Rincon Road. Former Texas State Aquarium Chairman and current Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chairman Charles Zahn Jr. says the center represents 30 years of dedication to conservation work.
Make way for Ruby, the new Southern White Rhinoceros calf at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida. Born on Aug. 6, the healthy calf marks the park’s third rhino birth in less than a year. Ruby’s birth contributes to the White Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, a countrywide effort to protect species from extinction. Since 1979, Lion Country Safari has recorded 39 rhino calf births at the park.
“Both the calf and mom are spending quality time bonding together in a maternity area, and will be visible to guests from their cars in the drive-through safari,” the park said in a press release.
BIG news! Say hello to Ruby, a white calf born last week! She's the 3rd born here in less than a year & she's part of a #conservation program to save rhinos from extinction! Ruby & mom, Blossom, will be visible in a maternity area in the Hwange habitat in the safari. pic.twitter.com/Whw0doD0yQ
While the park hasn’t weighed Ruby yet, official estimates place the newborn at about 100 pounds. In the first three years of life, a baby rhino can gain about 1,000 pounds annually. The calf nurses for two years and gains about 3 or 4 pounds daily. Park officials will monitor Ruby’s growth to ensure her health and safety.
Ruby’s birth makes 7-year-old rhino Blossom a first-time mother. According to Lion Country Safari, “Blossom’s family line is considered underrepresented in the population; each offspring’s genes are important to the overall diversity and health of the population under human care and to the conservation of the species.”
Classified by the World Wildlife Fund as “near threatened,” the Southern White Rhinoceros population faces threats such as poaching and habitat loss. In the 1970s, the species approached extinction with a population under 1,000. Thanks to conservation efforts, the white rhino population is now estimated at 18,000-20,000.
Currently, Lion Country Safari houses 16 white rhinos, including 12 females and 4 males. The park also participates in the American Institute of Rhinoceros Science (AIRS) research program to help ensure healthy rhino populations.
Track Ruby’s journey via the Lion Country Safari Twitter account.
As water demands grow in the West, the USGA supports studies that help keep golf afloat.
The U.S. Golf Association doesn’t just run championships and make rules. The governing body of golf in the U.S. and Mexico also has invested nearly $47 million dollars in the past four decades to promote turfgrass and environmental research.
It’s money well spent, as the USGA says its recently renamed Mike Davis Program for Advancing Golf Course Management and its related research saves the golf industry an estimated $1.92 billion annually. Much of that comes in the areas of water savings and more efficient use of fertilizer and pesticide.
In an era of droughts and increasingly demanding water restrictions, particularly in the U.S. West, such savings and improved agronomic practices not only help golf course superintendents provide better playing surfaces, in many ways the program has helped make the sport possible at all in the desert environments of the West.
As major lakes go dry and the Colorado River provides decreased flow to seven states, golf is often targeted as a waste of water. The USGA’s stewardship in sustainability has become even more important to an industry that provides a $192 billion annual economic impact involving some 2 million jobs in the U.S., as measured by the American Golf Industry Coalition.
“Golf Course superintendents have always been under scrutiny for water use,” Brian Whitlark, the USGA’s senior consulting agronomist for the West Region, told Golfweek. “… Everyone is in the same boat, and everyone is concerned about water use. I think we’re all – golf course superintendents, the research community, USGA agronomists – we’re all working together to find methods, strategies and technologies to reduce water use with the goal of still producing a good playing surface and keep business thriving. We’re all working toward that, and we’re definitely making strides.”
Moisture meters allow golf course superintendents to apply water only when and where needed. (Courtesy of the USGA)
Many of those strides are the result of the Mike Davis Program, which was launched in 1982 and until 2021 was known as the Turfgrass Environmental Research Program before being renamed in honor of the former USGA executive director/CEO.
In 2022, the program opted to provide funding for more than 80 university research projects, many of which focus on reducing water usage either though improved irrigation or the development of more drought-resistant grasses. The USGA said it invested $1.9 million in those programs in 2022, with more than a dozen universities receiving grants for both short-term and long-term projects.
“We’re trying to think 10 to 15 years into the future, what are the problems now, how we think that is going to change, and how we need to alter our research investment to make sure we have answers for those problems,” said Dr. Cole Thompson, the USGA’s director of turfgrass and environmental research.
Research topics tackle water sustainability in many ways, ranging from the development of better grasses that requires less water all the way to technology such as soil-moisture monitors that help golf course superintendents determine when to water and how much without wasting recourses.
Whitlark said most courses in the West have made dramatic changes in recent years to tackle water use responsibly, and the USGA-funded research has trickled down through the industry to help.
“I’m excited about drip irrigation,” Whitlark said. “I’m excited about turf conversion to bermudagrass. I’m excited about all these universities working together to breed a new grass that will stay green and grow year round. Those are the areas that will really change the industry over the next 10 to 15 years.”
Whitlark said there are many misconceptions among the non-golfing public about how course superintendents approach water use. Too many people, he said, are under the impression that golf course managers are trying to grow as much lush green grass as possible, and that they will use as much water as is available.
“Something that needs to be said, especially to non-golfers, is that the last thing golf course superintendents want to do is to produce lush green conditions,” Whitlark said. “I’ll tell you why: That means it’s an overwatered golf course. It’s not a great playing surface to play on lush green conditions.
“What superintendents want is to produce a firm golf course and healthy grass. And that can be a green golf course, I’m not talking about brown, it’s just not lush green. Golf course superintendents are producing a playing surface. Non-golfers look at their own lawn or gardens with lush green, but it’s so different on a golf course. It means just enough water to keep the grass healthy, and that’s it.”
Turfgrass research sponsored by the USGA has helped develop new varieties of grasses that are more drought and disease resistant. (Courtesy of the USGA)
Advancements in recent years have been able to cut water usage by as much as 30 percent at many courses, Whitlark said. Much of that has come through targeted water usage, as research topics have made their way into real-world applications. Other savings come through reduced turf acreage as courses replace traditional rough with native areas that require much less water. Many research topics involve the use of effluent water where available, even the use of new strains of grass such as paspalum that are saltwater tolerant.
Technology plays a great role. Instead of sprinkling blindly over dozens of acres of turf, modern course superintendents can individually control each of thousands of sprinkler heads on a course. Some courses have investigated targeted drip irrigation, providing just enough water to exactly the correct location. Advanced irrigation computer systems help superintendents further target areas identified by in-ground sensors – often in cooperation with onsite weather stations – as needing moisture replenishment while not overwatering nearby areas.
“Just by raising awareness about these types of strategies and getting people to help implement them, I think we can save a lot of water in the West especially,” Thompson said.
As climate changes and demands on water increase particularly in Western states, will it all be enough to save the sport? Thompson points out that golf’s water usage is, no pun intended, just a drop in the bucket of total public consumption. But as demands increase, he anticipates research helping to keep golf afloat as a whole.
Mike Whan, who became CEO of the USGA in 2021, has pledged to continue the organization’s investments in research to find ways to address water concerns and other environmental challenges.
“A core focus of the USGA is to ensure golf is not only thriving today, but it is growing in the next 20, 30 and 50 years,” Whan said in a media release announcing this year’s grant recipients. “To ensure future success, we need to continually invest in efforts that can address challenges that our game will face long-term – like water scarcity, the cost of labor/resources and the availability of land.
“We are making significant investments in research projects that will create an even more resource-friendly game. These advances are critically important steps to ensure that golf remains nimble and innovative in its approach to long-term sustainability.”
Humans share the planet with animals of all shapes and sizes. In a world teeming with life, people sometimes forget that many wild animals struggle to survive. Critically endangered species illustrate how easily an entire population of creatures can disappear when threatened. Factors such as habitat loss, poaching, disease, and more present major obstacles for wildlife, but there are solutions. Learn more about some of the world’s critically endangered animals and how groups like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) work to protect them.
Get involved to uplift communities through conservation projects.
From July 16-24 this year, Latino Conservation Week celebrates its ninth anniversary. The 2022 slogan, “Disfrutando y Conservando Nuestra Tierra” (“Enjoying and Conserving Our Land”), encapsulates the program’s message. An initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF), the week-long event supports the Latino community’s engagement with outdoor activity and conservation projects.
“Latino communities continue to prove they are passionate about the outdoors and hold a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to be good stewards,” Maite Arce, HAF president and CEO, said. “Latino Conservation Week helps break down barriers for Latino communities to access public lands and waters, encourages new opportunities for engagement and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.”
Throughout the week, non-profit, faith-based, community, and government organizations work together to host events throughout the country. Since Latino Conservation Week’s inception, the initiative has grown from hosting nine events in 2014 to over 160 events in 2019. These events range from community roundtables and hikes to film-screenings and outdoor dance classes.
“A lot of the Latino community do live in nature-deprived areas,” Juan Rosas, a conservation program associate with the HAF, said. “So, to be able to take them hiking and fishing, camping – have virtual events, webinars, educational resources that they can firsthand experience – is the goal of Latino Conservation Week.”
Additionally, Latino Conservation Week aims to influence public policy in support of local and national conservation issues. The initiative supports various Hispanic community leaders and organizations as they partner to protect the land, air, and water.
“It’s so important for our young people to have outdoor experiences and education that really resonate with them. To understand the way our ecosystems work, you have to love being outdoors,” Gabe Vasquez, a conservationist and candidate for New Mexico’s southernmost congressional seat, told the El Paso Times. “The next leaders in making climate change decisions should be as diverse as the people in our country.”
Follow the conversation about Latino Conservation Week via the hashtag “LCW2022” on Twitter, and explore the roster here to find an event near you.
calf born last week! She's the 3rd 
