*** Zoom Speaker***
Mead Krówka is a REEF Education Coordinator. He joined the REEF team .jpg)
based at the REEF Campus in early 2024 to assist with our growing Explorers Education Programs. Mead grew up in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina where he spent countless hours hiking, backpacking, and falling in love with the outdoors. This led to him getting his first PADI certification at age 13, leading to hundreds of dives around the world. In May 2021, Mead graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with degrees in Environmental Science and Biological Anthropology. His time at UNCW led to volunteer work with the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees and the Surfrider Foundation, as well as a research publication in the American Association for Biological Anthropology. Prior to joining the REEF team, Mead was a Program Coordinator for residential marine science summer programs through Sea Turtle Camp and WB Surf Camp, where he developed educational curricula and led residential overnight programs. In his free time, Mead enjoys traveling, birding, diving, surfing, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Mead is excited to share his passion for education and conservation!
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation non-profit organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. REEF was founded in 1990 and is based in Key Largo, Florida, with members all over the globe. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. This is primarily accomplished through the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Since its launch in 1993, this citizen science program has generated one of the largest marine life databases in the world. In 2024, the database surpassed 300,000 surveys conducted at almost 18,000 sites throughout the world’s oceans by over 17,000 volunteer divers and snorkelers worldwide.
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) protects marine life through education, service, and research. REEF facilitates programs that actively engage divers, snorkelers, and other marine enthusiasts in marine conservation by transforming them into citizen scientists. With knowledge, training, and the opportunity to get involved, these marine citizen scientists make significant and ongoing contributions. REEF provides varied training opportunities to encourage wide participation, and has a comprehensive experience-rating system and QA/QC checks for data submission to ensure high quality data. The survey methodology was developed with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and guidance by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). In our talk you will learn all about REEFs mission, Volunteer Fish Survey Project, and next steps for how YOU can become a free member and active citizen scientist.
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