Bringing a slice of reefs to the prairies
Have a group that wants to learn about reefs and see some reef inhabitants first hand? Reach out to schedule an education session!
It seems most people hate public speaking. If you met me in person, you might think I’m shy, definitely not the public speaking type. For whatever reason, I am perfectly fine with public speaking. In fact, I enjoy the opportunity to share my knowledge. Luckily, I’m not bad at it either—at least I’ve been told.
Recently, someone reached out on the local reef community Facebook to see if somebody was willing to speak on reefs for a couple of senior communities in Calgary. I already drive my family and anyone who will listen crazy with my rants on keeping corals and coral reefs. I figured why not put it to some pictures, gather some demos and get an audience? I am very happy I took them up on the opportunity, It was a lot of fun and I could tell at least some of the folks enjoyed the talk.
My goal wasn’t just entertainment value though, I was hoping to teach folks some information on the wonderful world of reefs. Even just a few basics, like corals are animals and what some of the threats are to reefs. By getting people interested, I think you can grow appreciation. People are better stewards of things they appreciate. Some of the most important conservation efforts are led by fishermen and hunters. It might seem counterintuitive, people who kill animals for sport or sustenance, don’t seem like the ones who would care the most. In my experience, however, these people have a deep appreciation for the animals they harvest. They immerse themselves in the environment and they want this experience and lifestyle to be available to future generations. When you keep a reef tank, there’s a line back to the ocean with the animals you have in your tank. We want to see those environments protected and thriving. By keeping these animals, at least in my experience, you grow to appreciate and care about their natural environment. I don’t expect anyone in the audiences to take up reef keeping, but I hope it’s something that they talk about, read about and that can inspire others!
You also never know who is in the audience. After my talk, a gentleman shared that he was in fact, a retired marine biologist. He shared an anecdote about a time in a submersible, Where he got to observe the life found at hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean. It was not just rewarding to share my knowledge, but learn from the experiences of others. An unexpected benefit of sharing my passion.
Since this was such a great experience, I hope to find more opportunities to educate about coral reefs. If you are In Alberta and have a group that might be interested, please reach out! I think these sessions are well suited for all ages and education levels: senior living, schools, and community events.
My workshop contains lots of live demos I take along from my tanks and teaches some of the basics, without getting too academic.
