ANGARI Foundation Opens Spring Marine Science Webinar Series to Public

The Florida Everglades harbor secrets about how juvenile bull sharks move nutrients between ecosystems, a revelation that could reshape our understanding of coastal food webs. This February, the public gets direct access to nearly two decades of tracking data through ANGARI Foundation’s Ocean Expert Exchange, a free webinar series connecting marine scientists with curious audiences.

Running monthly through spring, the program brings researchers from their field sites to virtual classrooms without the traditional barriers of academic conferences or institutional paywalls. The initiative, developed in partnership with the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program, structures each session around a 15-minute expert presentation followed by open Q&A.

Bull Sharks as Ecosystem Engineers

Will Sample from Florida International University opens the spring lineup on February 4 at 9 a.m. EST with findings that challenge conventional views of predator behavior. His research tracks how juvenile bull sharks in the Everglades may function as mobile nutrient pumps, carrying energy across habitat boundaries while optimizing movement patterns to conserve energy.

The study reveals something unexpected: individual sharks appear to specialize in different ecological roles, each with distinct implications for how the ecosystem functions. Sample’s work synthesizes movement data spanning nearly 20 years with new field observations, offering a rare longitudinal perspective on these apex predators during their most vulnerable life stage.

Threatened Shorebirds and Coastal Pressures

Matthew Anderson, Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves Manager with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, shifts focus to American Oystercatchers on March 4 at 9 a.m. EST. The distinctive black-and-white shorebirds, designated as threatened by the state, face compounding pressures from habitat loss, natural predation, and human activity along Florida’s coasts.

Anderson’s presentation examines monitoring and restoration efforts for both resident and wintering populations, highlighting the challenges of protecting species that depend on increasingly developed shorelines. The webinar addresses practical conservation strategies and the data driving management decisions.

Inside Marine Documentary Production

Alexa Elliott, producer of the award-winning Changing Seas series, closes the spring schedule on April 1 at 9 a.m. EST by pulling back the curtain on marine science filmmaking. After 17 years on air through South Florida PBS, the documentary program has captured everything from American Samoa’s resilient coral reefs to cutting-edge experiments at the world’s northernmost research station during polar night.

Elliott walks participants through the complete production process, from concept development to final broadcast, revealing how science communication adapts complex research into compelling visual storytelling. The session offers insight into the technical and logistical challenges of documenting marine ecosystems, particularly in remote or extreme environments.

Access and Archives

All Ocean Expert Exchange webinars stream live via Zoom with required preregistration through angari.org/oceanexpertexchange. The Foundation maintains an archive of previous sessions with curated educational resources for extended exploration of each topic.

Registration Information:

• All webinars are free and open to the public
• Sessions run 9 a.m. EST on first Tuesday of each month (February 4, March 4, April 1)
• Preregistration required via ANGARI Foundation website
• Previous webinar recordings available online with supplementary materials

Written by: Junior Thanong Aiamkhophueng

Attribution: This article draws on information from an ANGARI Foundation press release; the Ocean Expert Exchange webinar series developed with the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute; bull shark research by Will Sample from Florida International University; American Oystercatcher conservation by Matthew Anderson at Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and marine documentary production by Alexa Elliott of Changing Seas for South Florida PBS.

About the Organization

ANGARI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation established in 2016 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a global community that is interested, knowledgeable, and invested in marine and environmental sciences   by directly supporting research initiatives that foster a greater trust and dialogue between scientists and the public. ANGARI Foundation uses innovative technology, film, and other media to raise awareness and strengthen science education. Many of the Foundation’s primary initiatives involve R/V ANGARI, a 65-foot vessel that serves as an exceptional research and education platform.