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Miami, FL – June 13 – 14, 2015 – The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science invited the community to “dive into” its 4th Annual Miami Underwater Festival, sponsored by festival founders Shelly and Marko Dimitrijevicm, with the theme of “Coasts, Reefs and Open Oceans.” The family-friendly festival was held in celebration of the global World Oceans Day, in honor of the oceans that link the world together, the products they provide to our daily lives, and to raise awareness of the current challenges faced. Visitors explored a range of topics from the biology of corals and sharks to conservation efforts, with interactive activities including meet and greets with NOAA scientists; viewed breathtaking underwater films from BLUE On Tour;  discovered where science meets filmmaking with a special screening of WPPBT2’s Changing Seas Saving Sawfish;  explored boat, water, and ocean safety with Shake-a-leg Miami, South Florida YMCA, and Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Ocean Bureau; participated in a workshop to learn about underwater photography with the Sanibel Sea School; learned about exciting new opportunities with the museum’s partner, CappSci, who are leading the efforts around the new CappSci Inventors competition and the Knight Cities Challenge-winning, Miami Science Barge; and dissected sharks and lion fishes. Sunday’s programming was presented by Smithsonian Latino Center’s ¡Descubra! Meet the Science Expert with featured speaker and National Science Foundation marine biologist Sonia Ortega and the ¡Descubra! Create-It hands-on activity on marine mammal sound communication. In addition, visitors were able to enjoy “Under the Sea,” an exhibit of 13 images from the 2015 University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Underwater Photography Contest. The stunning images reveal the secret beauties and mysteries of ocean life. The exhibit runs through the end of August in the Museum’s Space Gallery.

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9-Gregory Molloy Speaking4

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Gregory Molloy

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26-Nik Kornder & Ellen Goldenberg

Nik Kornder & Ellen Goldenberg

27-Ruben Van Hooidink & Lauren Valentino

Ruben Van Hooidink & Lauren Valentino

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