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Recently, youth from around the world raised their collective voice by taking part in the Youth Climate Strike to help raise awareness—and demand action—on the important issue of climate change. The Seattle Aquarium was incredibly proud that some of our very own Youth Ocean Advocates took part in the public march that inspired millions in cities all over the world. Below is a firsthand account from Isha Sangani, a Bellevue High School senior and Aquarium volunteer since 2016.

Part three of four. Seattle Aquarium Animal Care Specialist Caroline Hempstead traveled to the coastline of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve from June 28 to July 10, 2019. Caroline assisted with a variety of research being conducted as part of a long-term monitoring program of the area. Check out Caroline’s account of her experiences in Alaska!

Extra, extra. We’re excited to share a recent opinion piece that was published in the Seattle Times from our own Dr. Erin Meyer, who serves as our director of conservation programs and partnerships. Dr. Meyer shared news of a special report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that highlighted the impacts of climate change on our ocean and cryosphere (ice and glaciers).

Part two of four. Seattle Aquarium Animal Care Specialist Caroline Hempstead traveled to the coastline of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve from June 28 to July 10, 2019. Caroline assisted with a variety of research being conducted as part of a long-term monitoring program of the area. Check out Caroline’s account of her experiences in Alaska!

At the Aquarium, we believe our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment begins with us—and that includes modeling sustainability in our operations whenever possible. This commitment is reflected in a particularly delicious way in our café, thanks to the skill, expertise and dedication of our Executive Chef Molly De Mers—or, as she’s affectionately known at the Aquarium, Chef Molly.

Part one of four. Seattle Aquarium Animal Care Specialist Caroline Hempstead traveled to the coastline of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve from June 28 to July 10, 2019. Caroline assisted with a variety of research being conducted as part of a long-term monitoring program of the area. Check out Caroline’s account of her experiences in Alaska!

Having clean air and water is something we would all like to take for granted. It is essential to life and important to ensuring healthy communities and ecosystems. That is why Seattle Aquarium was disappointed to learn about proposed actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will revoke protective water quality standards here in Washington state.

Research shows that encouraging and developing empathy for animals in children is an important motivator toward action on the animals’ behalf. Through grant-funded initiatives, we’ve laid the groundwork for best practices, enhanced visitor programming and promoted industry interest in principles for empathy for animals.

Recently, Aquarium staff and volunteers joined over 15,000 people from zoos and aquariums from around the world to participate in the month-long Plastic-Free July EcoChallenge. Throughout the month, team members took concrete steps to avoid single-use plastics and their efforts produced some amazing results!

This year, the Aquarium has been working hard to raise our collective voice in support of our southern resident orca population. Washington state has taken important steps, but we still have work to do as the southern resident population has fallen to only 73 members, the lowest number since the 1970s.

Have you ever heard of a puffling (a baby puffin)? Did you know that male seahorses carry their young until they are ready to be born? Well, those are just a couple of the fun things you might learn if you come down and see some of the newest additions to the Aquarium!

#4 and final post in the 2019 series of guest blog posts by Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists Bobby Arispe and Jen Strongin.