GLIN==> NOAA and Shedd Aquarium Host Great Lakes Day

[Irene Miles <miles@uiuc.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jana Goldman                                  

        

(301)
734-1123                                

Sept. 5, 2007

NOAA, SHEDD AQUARIUM PARTNER FOR ?GREAT DAY IN GREAT LAKES?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Shedd
Aquarium in Chicago are sponsoring an outdoor family day Saturday, Sept.
8 at the aquarium with the theme It's a Great Day in the Great
Lakes.
 
This free event includes tours of the Laurentian, one of NOAA?s
completely petroleum-free research vessels, along with the Discovery
Tent, with numerous exhibits and activities for all ages. It will
showcase topics such as weather, climate, fisheries, food webs, invasive
species, satellites and more. 
 
    NOAA is participating in this event as part of the
agency?s year-long celebration to commemorate 200 years of science,
service and stewardship to the nation. 
 
?It all started in 1807 with President Thomas Jefferson?s vision to
support his fledgling nation?s economy by ensuring safe maritime
commerce.  He accomplished this by creating the Survey of the Coast,
the first federal science agency and precursor to NOAA?s navigation
services,? said Stephen B. Brandt, director of NOAA?s Great Lakes
Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. ?We take pride in our scientific
heritage and I invite you attend this event to learn more about the wide
range of research, services and products that NOAA provides to the Great
Lakes.?
 
The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. It will take place
at the south side of the aquarium on 1200 South Lake Shore Drive in
Chicago.
 
The Discovery Tent will showcase NOAA products and services available to
the public in the Great Lakes region. Booths will also feature
activities, free handout materials, and educational items. NOAA
scientists and program managers will be available to answer
questions.   
 
The Laurentian will be docked near the Shedd Aquarium all day and
available for tours. This ?green? Great Lakes research vessel was one of
the first in the federal fleet to run petroleum-free. NOAA vessels
operate throughout the Great Lakes for ecosystem research and addressing
other NOAA priorities in the region. 
 
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing
environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources.
Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS),
NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the
European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as
integrated as the planet it observes, predicts, and protects.

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On the Web:
NOAA:
http://www.noaa.gov/
NOAA 200th Celebration:
http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
386 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
(217) 333-8055
FAX (217) 333-8046