Sparkling and murky, the Atlantic Ocean is a mysterious treasure chest of contrast, right on our doorstep. Everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday, May 14, 2022, for A Whale of a Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a day of fun and education under the blue whale skeleton! This event at the Core Science Facility, located at 45 Arctic Avenue on the St. John’s campus, is designed to promote our oceans-related research, teaching and learning and public engagement. Come and learn about the diverse sea expertise at Memorial and how you might someday work with sea life!

Some of the featured exhibits include:

• The Department of Biology will provide whale interpretation, including the story of the whale’s origin, from its time in the sea to when it was suspended in the Core Science Facility. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the whale heart, anatomy, environment, life cycle and more – getting up close and personal from multiple angles.
• The Ocean Sciences Centre and the Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station will bring touch tanks, allowing visitors to dip their hands in and explore the underwater world of creatures.
• The GEO Centre’s display will look at creatures of the sea, specifically corals and sponges of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Gardens of the Deep exhibit, which will also feature fossilized ocean creatures.
• The Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) will have a green screen photo booth, which will allow visitors to have their own encounter with the mammoth whale.
• The student robotics team from Marine Institute and other select programs at Memorial will demonstrate this year’s Eastern Edge competition vehicle and talk about the STEM program. A video display will teach visitors about The Launch – the Marine Institute’s hub of ocean innovation, discovery and leadership.
• Grenfell Campus representatives will be available to speak about a group of researchers from Mi’kmaw communities across the province who recently received nearly $15 million to investigate how repurposed marine biomass can develop new products to create a more sustainable Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Exhibitions from other faculties, including Humanities and Social Sciences, Engineering and Applied Science, Science and Medicine will also be on site with exciting and dynamic displays. Information will also be available on Memorial’s programs.
• This event is free to attend but registration is preferred for planning purposes. Please note, masks are required to be worn at all times while attending. Register today!