Conference
2024 Schedule At-a-Glance
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Check-in/Registration & Poolside Welcome Social (5:00pm - 8:00pm)
📍Holiday Inn Express- North Palm Beach and IHG Hotel
13950 U.S. Highway 1
Juno Beach, FL, 33408, US
Poolside Welcome Social (5:30pm - 7:00pm)
Meet and greet with fellow FMSEA members poolside as you get settled in Juno Beach! Wear your Conference badge and bring a business card to enter to win a sustainable gift pack, courtesy of our Conference sponsors and community partners. Drawing will take place at the Saturday Awards Banquet.
Conference check-in is available on Thursday evening between 5:00pm - 8:00pm on the main Lobby. Registration will otherwise be available on Friday afternoon from 1:00pm - 5:00pm and Saturday morning at Loggerhead Marinelife Center from 8:00am - 9:00am.
Friday, April 26, 2024
Check-in/Registration (1:00pm - 5:00pm)
📍Holiday Inn Express- North Palm Beach and IHG Hotel
13950 U.S. Highway 1
Juno Beach, FL, 33408, US
Conference check-in is available on Friday between 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Registration will otherwise be available on Saturday morning at Loggerhead Marinelife Center from 8:00am - 9:00am.
FMSEA Field Experiences (Various; 9:00am - 4:00pm)
Immersive and educational professional development experiences with aquatic educators across Palm Beach and Martin Counties will take place throughout the day. Registration for specialized FMSEA Field Experience is completed during Conference registration. Field Experiences are exclusive to Conference attendees. A list of Field Experience providers can be found on the main Conference page here.
President's Circle SciCafé (6:00pm - 8:30pm)
📍 John D. MacArthur State Park, 10900 Jack Nicklaus Dr, North Palm Beach, FL 33408
Join FMSEA members from across the state at the highly-anticipated annual President's Circle SciCafé social event, held at the beautiful John D. MacArthur State Park. Attendees will hear from leaders in marine science and have the opportunity to explore the Park, including the scenic estuarine boardwalk and Education Center. Light bites and cash bar will be available throughout the evening. Event made possible thanks in part to the SciCafé Sponsor, Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park.
Dr. Stephen Kajiura
Florida Atlantic University, Elasmobranch Research Laboratory
Dr. Lauren Eve Simonitis
NSF/FAU Post-Doctoral Fellow, Minorities in Shark Sciences
Saturday, April 27, 2024
📍Location: Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 US Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408
2024 FMSEA Conference
Theme: Keeping Current in Ocean Education
The 2024 Conference will be held at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, an active sea turtle hospital and nonprofit educational facility located in Juno Beach. Join marine science educators and professionals from around the state at the Conference Keynote, concurrent sessions, and exhibitor row. Conference attendees will have access to all Saturday events. Lunch is provided with conference registration.
Check-in/Registration Open (8:00am - 9:00am), North Entrance
Doors open at 8:00am for attendee arrival and check-in to the North Entrance of Loggerhead Marinelife Center. See Conference Program Map for more details.
Conference Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am), Gordon & Patricia Gray Auditorium
2024 Keynote Speaker
Jessica Harvey, Chief Executive Officer, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
Jessica Harvey, daughter of marine life artist Guy Harvey, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, working with her team to expand STEAM-driven marine educational resources provided by the foundation and it’s partners to move our global community towards a greener economy and healthier environment – one country at a time.
Jessica earned her Bachelors Degree in Zoology at the University of Edinburgh. She then served as a Research Officer in the Terrestrial Resources Unit at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) for 3.5 years. She assisted with terrestrial wildlife population assessments, invasive species management, guidance notes, educational and legislative initiatives. She also served as a member of the National Conservation Council providing terrestrial and marine expertise with a team whose responsibility is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Cayman's natural resources and biological divserity under the National Conservation Act.
Partnering with local NGOs, Government departments, corporations and private citizens, Jessica and her team bring awareness to the importance of a balanced and healthy marine ecosystem.
Concurrent Sessions & Exhibitor Row (10:00am - 4:30pm)
Exhibitor Row Open (10:00am - 4:30pm)
🌊 Session Blocks 1 & 2 (10:10am - 12:00pm), See Conference Program Map
Presenters from The Nature Conservancy, Florida Sea Grant, Ocean First Institute, Eckerd College, and more
🌊 Boxed Lunch (12:00pm - 1:00pm), Oceanview Sky Deck
Breakout Regional Meetings (12:30pm - 1:00pm)
🌊 Session Blocks 3 & 4 (1:10pm - 3:00pm), See Conference Program Map
Presenters from Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), and more
🌊 Cookie & Coffee Break (3:00pm - 4:15pm), See Conference Program Map
Cookie and coffee break generously sponsored by Crumbl Palm Beach Gardens and I Need Coffee Jupiter
🌊 Session Block 5 (3:10pm - 4:00pm), See Conference Program Map
Presenters from Florida Atlantic University, Jacksonville University Research Institute, and more
🌊 Exhibitor Row - Last Call (4:00pm - 4:30pm), See Conference Program Map
Last call to visit exhibitors and pick-up ocean-inspired gifts from supporting vendors
📍Location: Manatee Lagoon, 6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
FMSEA Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet (6:00pm - 9:30pm)
The 2024 Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet will be held at Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center in West Palm Beach. Enjoy a catered dinner and bar, ocean-packed gear at the silent auction, marine life photo area, FMSEA annual election results & 2024 FMSEA Awards presentation. Conference attendees will have access to all Saturday events. Invitation to the Saturday night Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet is included with conference registration.
For more information on Teacher Trust Fund Scholarships and Board elections, visit the main Conference page, here.
Please note: Transportation will be provided from the Conference Hotel at 5:15pm/5:45pm and depart for the Conference hotel at 8:30pm/9:00pm. Shuttle will not wait for late arrivals, so please plan accordingly.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
📍Location: Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 US Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408
FMSEA Exclusive! FDEP BleachWatch Workshop (9:00am - 11:00am), Gordon & Patricia Gray Auditorium
📍Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 US Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408
Become a BleachWatch Trained Observer in this 2-hour training workshop with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The BleachWatch Program combines climate and sea surface temperature data with field observations on the condition of coral reefs from a trained observer network to detect the potential onset of mass bleaching events. The environmental monitoring data will be combined with observer network reports to produce a comprehensive overview of current conditions in the region.
FMSEA Board Meeting (9:00am - 10:00am), Learning Lab North
All FMSEA members are welcome to attend the first Board of Directors meeting of the 2024 - 2025 fiscal year.
FMSEA members may RSVP their interest in attending here.
Aquatic Species Collection Workshop Facilitator Annual Meeting* (10:00am - 11:00am), Virtual
*Restricted to current workshop facilitators only
FMSEA and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offer an exclusive Aquatic Species Collection Workshop for educators. Upon successful completion of the workshop, educators receive a 3-year certification to conduct in-water collection activities for education purposes. Uses of the certification include seining, dip netting and other aquatic activities with student groups. Workshop attendees will also learn methods and best practices when conducting catch and release activities with students or collecting for classroom aquaria.
Registration for the Aquatic Species Collection Workshop is completed during Conference registration and requires an additional fee. For more information about the Aquatic Species Collection Certificate, click here.
Conference Closing Address & Blue Mind Book Signing (11:00am - 12:00pm)
Join in for the final event of the Conference with the conference closing address followed by an exclusive book signing with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols of his national bestselling novel, Blue Mind.
Blue Mind is a landmark book by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols on the remarkable effects of water in all of its shapes and forms on our health and well-being.
Dr. Wallace "J" Nichols has authored more than 200 scientific papers, technical reports, book chapters, and popular publications; lectured in more than 30 countries and nearly all 50 states; and appeared in hundreds of print, film, radio, and television media outlets including NPR, BBC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet, Time, Newsweek, GQ, Outside Magazine, USA Today, Elle, Vogue, Fast Company, Surfer Magazine, Scientific American, and New Scientist, among many others.
Limited copies of Blue Mind are available for signing with each donation of $20 or more to the FMSEA Teacher Scholarship Fund. Don't miss this opportunity to meet one of the world’s foremost authority on the mental-health benefits of spending time near, in, on, or under water!
2024 Conference Weekend Concludes (12:00pm)
On behalf of the entire FMSEA Board of Directors and Conference Committee, thank you for supporting ocean education and for all you do in the field, lab and classrooms to advance marine science education. Safe travels home!
Post-Conference Aquatic Species Collection Workshop (Virtual)
Monday, April 29, 2024 @ 7:00PM
Your conference registration includes a complimentary virtual Aquatic Species Collection Workshop (ASCW). Please check your Conference registration confirmation for more details on how to apply the Conference code and register. More information on the FMSEA/FWC Aquatic Species Collection Workshop can be found here and below.
