VISITORS will have the chance to get up close and personal with local marine life at the University of Queensland Moreton Bay Research Station community open day on November 24.
Located on North Stradbroke Island, the station is one of the biggest marine research facilities in the country, and attracts scientists and researchers from around the world.
The open day will feature Moreton Bay discovery cruises around the island, with the Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre.
Geckoes Wildlife will host a live animal show, featuring reptiles, mammals and birds and visitors will have the chance to get up close with a touch tank of local marine life.
Art workshops will be held with the support of creative reuse centre Reverse Garbage.
Local Quandamooka man Mathew Burns will take visitors along the Goompi Trail, a one-hour historical walk along the Dunwich foreshore.
People will learn about Aboriginal artifacts, traditional hunting methods, bush tucker, medicines, traditional ochres and see the remnants of an old rock fish trap.
MBRS scholarship winners will speak on topics like cuttlefish, reef health and tracking energy consumption of manta rays.
Station manager Kevin Townsend said the day was not to be missed.
“These up-and-coming early career scientists are making a change to how we understand Moreton Bay,” he said.
“People should come to hear about the research we do here, and learn more about how we interact with the bay.”
Scientists and researchers at the Moreton Bay Research Station are encouraging children and adults with an interest in science to attend the free event on November 24 from 10am until 3pm.
Located at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, the facility is a short walk from the island’s two ferry terminals.
