NEWS

Stone Lab hosts series of experts to discuss lake

Jon Stinchcomb
Reporter

GIBRALTAR ISLAND - People looking to learn more about the issues facing Lake Erie will have several opportunities this summer to hear firsthand from the experts in the field who deal with those issues every day.

The Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory, the Ohio Sea Grant’s education and outreach facility located on Gibraltar Island just north of Put-in-Bay, is hosting a series of free lectures covering various topics related to Lake Erie.

The 2016 Stone Lab Guest Lecture Series continues through Aug. 4, with guest speakers live at the facility each Thursday.

Gibraltar Island: Put-in-Bay’s studious neighbor

The speakers come from a variety of different professional backgrounds, such as the U.S. EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), universities and nonprofit organizations.

For example, this week's Stone Lab will host Kent Bekker, director of conservation and research at the Toledo Zoo. He will discuss his organization's conservation efforts, including work with local native species.

Prior to each lecture, researchers funded by the Ohio Sea Grant will briefly introduce their recent work on topics such as global warming, algal blooms, fish habitats and more.

Each research brief begins at 7 p.m., followed by the guest lecturer at 8 p.m. The events are open to the public to see live at the Stone Lab. Water taxis to Gibraltar Island leave from the Boardwalk Restaurant dock on Put-in-Bay at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., which cost $6 for a round trip.

For those who are interested but unable to make it in-person, the lectures also will be available online. Previous presentations in the series can be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/ohioseagrant.

More information about each event can be found at go.osu.edu/guestlectures.

On July 21, the only week in the series without a guest speaker, students in the Stone Lab’s Research Experience for Undergraduates Scholarship Program (REU) will present their own research projects, which is also open to the public. These presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-680-4897

Twitter: @JonDBN

WANT TO GO?

What: 2016 Stone Lab Guest Lecture Series

Where: Harbor Taxi Landing, The Boardwalk in Put-in-Bay to Stone Laboratory, Gilbraltar Island

When: Thursdays, now to Aug. 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cost: $6 roundtrip taxi fare