ESP panelists answer questions about the environment at MerMagic Con
ESP faculty Dr. Karen Akerlof and Dr. Esther Peters had organized a group among ESP aquatic sciences faculty and graduate students to serve as the Activism and Conservation Panel at MerMagic Con, which was held at the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center on GMU's Science and Technology Campus on Sunday, March 6, 2022.
Dr. Karen Akerlof was regretfully unable to attend, but PhD student Christopher Round, microbial ecologist Dr. Jennifer Salerno, marine conservationist/economist Dr. Diego Valderrama, and invertebrate and coral health specialist Dr. Esther Peters made up the panel of experts for the hour-long Q&A session. The panelists were asked questions by the moderator about the impacts of pollution, development, climate change, and ocean conservation issues, then answered questions posed by audience members.
MerMagic Con includes this panel to help inform attendees about how they can help protect the oceans, waterways, and the life they support. This annual meeting is the largest mermaid convention in the world and presents courses, activities, and a vendor hall to support the interests of kids, mer-enthusiasts, and mer-professionals.
