Flyer with details about Science Night 2024Science Night 2024

Science Night is an annual event hosted by the Prince William Regional Citizens Advisory Council. Topics focus on research related to the safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound. The event is hosted in Anchorage in late November/early December.

NEW IN 2024!! Several partner organizations hosted watch parties in some of our communities: the Prince William Science Center hosted a party in Cordova, the Kenai Peninsula College and Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve co-hosted in Homer, and the Prince William Sound College in Valdez.

Staying alert and proactive in the Exxon Valdez oil spill region

The theme for 2024 was Staying alert and proactive in the Exxon Valdez oil spill region. Presentations included:

Recordings from Science Night 2024

Recordings of the presentations are available on our YouTube Channel as a playlist: Science Night 2024 or individual presentations are available below.

Large Whale Entanglement Response in Alaska “a Team Effort”

Presentation by John Moran – Research Fisheries Biologist, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Entanglements in marine debris and fishing gear cause suffering, serious injuries, and possible death large whales. This talk will cover how trained responders approach an entanglement, focusing on the recent response to an entangled humpback whale in Port Valdez.

Watch directly on YouTube: Large Whale Entanglement Response in Alaska “a Team Effort”

Maritime Cybersecurity in Alaska

Presentation by Kristina Arsenault – Marine Transportation System Specialist (Cyber) USCG Marine Safety Unit Valdez

Alaska faces unique cybersecurity challenges relating to supply chain management, and infrastructure resiliency. This presentation explores the risks and mitigating strategies impacting Alaskans, port operations, and maritime commerce as a whole.

Watch directly on YouTube: Maritime Cybersecurity in Alaska

Ocean Plastics Recovery

Presentation by Andy Schroeder and Scott Farling – Co-Founders of Ocean Plastics Recovery Project

By harnessing the power of science, education, and storytelling, the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project seeks to reverse the flow of plastics into the marine environment, restore critical habitat so that nature can thrive, and return ocean-recovered plastics to the circular economy. We are currently scaling collection efforts across Alaska’s coastline, establishing a large scale monitoring site at Kayak island, and building out one of the first recycling facilities in the U.S. specifically tailored to process the massive marine debris waste stream. Looking further, we have begun an effort to aggregate best available scientific and economic data in an attempt to quantify in dollars the environmental service value of ocean plastics removal and recycling. Our hope is to help launch a new sector of Alaska’s blue economy focused on the restoration of impaired marine ecosystems.

Watch directly on YouTube: Ocean Plastics Recovery

Oiled Wildlife Response and Innovation since the Exxon Valdez

Presentation by Barbara Callahan – Senior Director of Response and Preparedness Services, International Bird Rescue

This presentation will include a brief overview of oiled wildlife response, including how aquatic birds are waterproof and how bird’s are reconditioned after oiling. Additionally, Barbara will discuss innovations in overall wildlife response and rehabilitation, such as pro-active capture, blood work, increased supportive care and more specific husbandry tactics that have greatly improved the release rate of wildlife after oiling.

Watch directly on YouTube: Oiled Wildlife Response and Innovation since the Exxon Valdez

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