Street Smarts

​Part improv, part educational outreach, our Street Smarts Series are live, impromptu demonstrations by local scientists that appear in very unconventional places. They represent a new, experimental form of science education and outreach aimed at opening up "surprising scenes of science" for public interaction and discussion.

Street Smarts: Ocean Acidification
Washington State Ferries, Seattle-Bainbridge Isl.

Oceanography  |  Climate Change  |  Chemistry

It's easy to think of the ocean as a big vast body of empty water that doesn't need much attention. The ocean naturally acts as Earth's sink for carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, helping to keep the balance of carbon that has existed in the ecosystem in flux for over millions of years. But over the last 250 years, that CO2 balance has gotten really out of whack---and the ocean needs our help.

​On September 13, 2015, we brought "ocean science to the ocean," storming the unsuspecting passengers of Washington State Ferries with microscopes, maps, and regional oceanographers. 

For more in-depth information on the issue, the science, and educational resources, click here or check out these external websites:

Washington Ocean Acidification Center
Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS)
​Applied Physics Laboratory - Ferries for Science
 Picture
Credits:
​Oceanographers:  Allison Lee (Institute for Systems Biology), Rachel Vander Giessen (Applied Physics Laboratory, Univ. Washington)
Film Crew: Alex Ellis (Producer, Director of Photography, Editor), Darcy Moynahan (Cinematographer), William Pierce (Sound Specialist)
Animation: Sean Kai Raffety