Sponsors of the MASTS Touch Tank
MASTS members are regularly involved in disseminating their research and activities. If you are interested in participating in, or indeed organising a MASTS associated outreach event, please get in touch.
MASTS has video display equipment for hire that can be used at events, click here for further information. MASTS also has an intertidal touch tank, click here for more details.
The NAFC Marine Centre has created outreach material for their project "Fuelling the Future" which is focused on conducting outreach in Shetland on the use of kelp as a renewable energy resource. The booklet contains information on different types of UK seaweed as well as instructions for fun activities and experiments. Please click here to download.
Stirling International Angling Festival (9th-10th August 2014). The MASTS intertidal touch tank was deployed for the duration of the inaugral festival's Hub event. It was manned by representatives of the MASTS Elasmobranch community project and was widely regarded as the events most popular attraction.
University of St Andrews Bioblitz (13th-14th June 2014). This 24 hour event invited members of the public to assist university researchers to record as many species of plants and animals as possible around East Sands, St Andrews. The touch tank was deployed and utilised to house organisms gathered from teh surrounding rocky shores. The SOI foyer was open to the public with volunteers on hand to introduce them to rocky shore animals.
Glasgow Science Festival (7th-8th June 2014) at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. As part of Glasgow Science Festival's Family Fun Weekend, the MASTS intertidal touch tank was installed in the museum's education zone. In addition to the touch tank, MASTS community scientists from Glasgow University engaged with the public on the topics of ocean acidification and how animals and nature shape our shorelines. MASTS graduate students acted as ambassadors, assisiting with the touch tanke and providing short talks on marine science. The weekend was a great success with nearly 600 people taking part in MASTS activities.
The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network at the Sea Life Aquarium, Loch Lomond. 10th-11th May 2014. This was the first outing for the new MASTS intertidal touch tank. Over 400 visitors attended this event, with over a third of these participating directly with the touch tank activities.
“Future Seas” exhibition as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Located in a prime position in the Museum of Scotland, our various exhibits were probably seen by in excess of 100,000 visitors. A combination of dedicated MASTS Graduate Students and a few other members of the MASTS community invested enormous energy and enthusiasm talking not only about their own research interests, but those of others in MASTS and marine life more generally (March/April 2013).
Marine Science Caberet Evening hosted by Quentin Cooper on 27th March 2013. Snappy presentations punctuated by some stunning graphics explored food and energy security and the role of the marine environment, using marine mammals to explore our oceans, together with a series of related presentations based on the use of novel tagging technologies to track the behaviour of everything from sharks to sea birds. Fascination with the deep sea appears to be universal and the dream team from Aberdeen did not disappoint with video sequences of fish and giant amphipods. And, everything you ever wanted to know about reform of the Common Fisheries Policy but were afraid to ask is always a blast. The potentially sobering demise of seal populations through intoxication by algae clearly made an impression on the audience. All Cabarets must have a finale! Enter stage left – Sea Bird Spies with Hip Hop Vibes! Crawford and Owen of the RSPB performed (mimed) a catchy duet - starting with the serious business of understanding sea bird behaviour and ending with the even more serious business of lobbying politicians whilst dressed in puffin costumes outside the Scottish Parliament.
Sponsors of the MASTS Touch Tank