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January 2023 Lunch and Learn Seminar: FAU Harbor Branch

Jan. Seminar: Marine Mammal Stranding

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An MRC Lunch & Learn Seminar

January 10, 2023
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Learn how FAU’s experts respond to marine mammal strandings, assist with necropsies, participate in cetacean rescue events, and perform monthly boat-based photo identification/population assessment surveys in order to collect data for scientific analysis at the Institute and across Florida. See below for video from this event.

You will also hear about the newly launched Dolphin Spotter program which invites our citizen scientists to help us gather data about the beloved Dolphins of the Indian River Lagoon.

Since 1998, The Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU Harbor Branch) Stranding and Population Assessment team has acted as a service operation to the Institute and the state of Florida.

This Seminar is an in-person event that will also be available live on Zoom.

About Our Presenters

Steve Burton and Samantha McGuire, FAU Harbor Branch
Steve Burton, M.S., is the Director of the Stranding and Population Assessment team at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. He has worked at FAU Harbor Branch since April 2010. Steve and his team respond to marine mammal strandings and perform monthly boat-based photo identification surveys in the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, between Sebastian and Jupiter Inlets. Steve received his master’s degree in Science from FAU and his bachelor’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University. Before joining FAU, Steve was a dolphin and sea lion trainer in Hawaii and has been working with marine mammals now for over 24 years.

Samantha McGuire, M.S., grew up in South Dakota and Minnesota before going to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for her first year of her undergraduate studies. Before graduating from Florida Atlantic University, she completed her Semester by the Sea program at FAU Harbor Branch. Her time at Harbor Branch led her to apply to the master’s degree program in Marine Science and Oceanography where she did research on marine mammals, including dolphins and manatees. Sam graduated from FAU with a Master of Science degree and now works full time as an outreach and marine education specialist.

MRC’s Lunch & Learn Webinar series is a long-standing and cherished social offered to the East Central Florida coast region, and is supported by volunteers and the community’s charitable giving. If interested and able, we ask participants to donate toward our guest speaker series. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information on the Marine Resources Council, please visit SaveTheIRL.org.