Introduction
Thanks to the Editors of the Gazette for allowing
me a little space to share my thoughts with you.
What is this space going to be about?
Well, in a word, Science.
I am a scientist, a biologist actually.
I am also a parent, and a Marina resident.
I think a lot about how my worlds come together; as a Scientist,
a Mom, and a Community Member.
I also think a lot about the importance of Science in our
everyday lives. And it is, I
think, important. I am
“Think Science.”
In this space I’ll write to you about how science
affects us, every day. I’ll
tell you exactly why I think science literacy is important.
I’ll examine ways in which we might take advantage of science.
And, I’ll explore how, as a Scientist, I think we can improve our
community, our country, and our world. Lots
of the subjects I will write about are issues that I am pondering at the
moment. There may not be a
clear solution, or an easy answer, to whatever problem I am exploring.
Ultimately, you decide what is right for you.
To fill the rest of today’s space I am simply going
to tell you a great story of science, industry and environment coming
together for mutual gain.
This one is about Mr. Dr. Think Science (that’d be my husband).
Mr. Dr. Think Science gives me
lots of good material to write about.
Mr. Dr. Think Science has been working for a couple of years now on a project, funded through research grants, called "sustainable aquaculture". He works with an abalone farm in Monterey, and they are working to grow various seaweeds for feeding to abalone so that they: 1) harvest less seaweed from the environment which, 2) reduces the labor associated with the production of abalone, and 3) improves their diet so that they grow more quickly, leading to 4) a reduced cost passed on to consumers, and, most importantly, 5) creates a sustainable system whereby the waste (that'd be poop) from the abalone fertilizes the seaweeds grown in turn to feed them. Abalone feed the seaweed; seaweed feeds the abalone. It is a nice 'closed-loop' that eliminates much of the problem with traditional aquaculture, which is the release of concentrated waste products. This is a species that you can no longer commercially harvest from the wild because their natural populations are so severely reduced.
So, on January 20 (my birthday, no less) there was
a promo event at the Highlands Inn in Carmel.
A taste test of the Super Abs, with various print (newspapers and
magazines) media and local foodies invited to attend, along with folks
from the
The abs were prepared side by side, the traditional versus the Super Abs, in a blind presentation.
The Super Abs won the taste test 27-6-7.
Twenty-seven people liked the
Super Abs better. Six could not
tell the difference. A HUGE win
for science, partnered with industry, with the result being a newer,
greener, more efficient approach to culturing this highly desirable
species.
Dr. Lara Ferry-Graham is Research Faculty at California State University’s Moss Landing Marine Labs. She writes mostly opinion. You can read more of her opinions, and provide your opinions, at her Science Blog: swimswithfishes.blogspot.com.
