Beneath Antarctic Ice - a presentation hosted by PTMSC

Contact:         Christina Pivarnik, Marketing

                      Port Townsend Marine Science Center

                      360.531.0127 or christina@pivarnik.com or info@ptmsc.org

In an illustrated lecture, Pema Kitaeff will talk about her recent research experiences while diving under more than seven feet of Antarctic ice. The presentation, hosted by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (PTMSC), will be on Saturday, March 22nd at 11 a.m. in the Natural History Exhibit at Fort Worden State Park.

“We’re excited to welcome Pema back to Port Townsend as a guest lecturer,” said Anne Murphy, executive director for PTMSC. “She’s been part of our PTMSC ‘family’ since working as both an intern and Americorps member from 1999-2001.”

For five weeks in the fall of 2007, Kitaeff was part of a team conducting research on nudibranch egg masses and exploring the subtidal marine communities of the Far South. Her experiences included encounters with Friendly, a Weddell seal who shared her diving hole, sea spiders which became subjects of the team’s experiments, brilliantly colored soft corals, and many other marine organisms.

Inspired by her time at PTMSC, Kitaeff went on to receive a Masters of Science degree studying the relationship between anemones and algae at Western Washington University and presently works at the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs where she is the Dive Safety Officer and Marine Tech.

Kitaeff had always dreamed of diving below the ice and avidly read about the experience of Shackleton and Scott, famous Antarctic explorers. Then, in October 2007, she was asked to replace a UW Antarctic team member who had been injured and couldn’t dive…and the dream became a reality.

Admission is $7 and $5 for PTMSC members . PTMSC is proud to take part in the International Polar Year (2007-2009), a global scientific and educational program to focus public attention on the Arctic and the Antarctic. The lecture is sponsored by the Sage Foundation.

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is devoted to understanding, preserving and teaching about our marine and shoreline environment as guardians for a sustainable future. Located on the beach at Fort Worden State Park, the PTMSC offers two public exhibits: the Marine Exhibit (ME) features large touch pools and aquaria, and the Natural History Exhibit (NHE) highlights the rich zone where land meets sea. The NHE is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and the ME is open by appointment only. Admission to the NHE is $3 for adults, $2 for youth and free to PTMSC members. The PTMSC also offers a wide variety of educational programs and special events. For more information, call 360.385.5582, e-mail info@ptmsc.org or visit www.ptmsc.org.

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