FKCC Opens VIP Series with Red Tide

Florida Keys Community College will open its 2019 VIP Series with “Florida Red Tide: Protecting Public Health Through Innovation and Citizen Science.”  The presentation, led by Dr. Tracy Fanara, Environmental Health Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory, is on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus.  The acronym in FKCC’s VIP Series stands for “visions, ideas, and perspectives;” the series invites the community to learn from speakers of local, regional, and national prominence. 

Dr. Fanara will discuss her research on red tide, which has recently devastated sea life and beach environments along Florida’s shorelines.  Her presentation will explore possible ways to shorten the duration and intensity of the toxic blooms as well as ways to protect the health and safety of beachgoers.  Changes at the regulatory level may take time, but there are things the public can do to help now.  She will talk about how anyone, through citizen science, can be empowered to collect and share data about affected environments with scientists as well as the public.

Dr. Fanara manages the Environmental Health Program at Mote, investigating the effects of marine and freshwater chemicals on public health.  She has extensive experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, engineering consulting, water quality analyses, and “storm chasing.”  Also known as “Inspector Planet,” Dr. Fanara utilizes social media and television, including a part on Science Channel’s “Mythbusters: The Search,” to encourage the public to take action to save the planet.

Tickets are $5 at the door.  Admission is free for students at FKCC and Monroe County schools. For more information, call FKCC at 305-296-9081 or visit www.fkcc.edu.

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