Monday, July 13, 2009

CIEE Announces Public Lecture Tonight on Bonaire’s Banded Box Jelly

CIEE will hold another informative lecture this evening at their headquarters at 7:00 PM. Tonight’s guest speaker will be William ("Bud") Gillan, biologist, teacher, Smithsonian consultant, and jellyfish and fire ant sting researcher.

Bud will be discussing the “Bonaire Banded Box Jelly:  A Magnificent New Species of Cubozoan.” The new species has a real name thanks to the 2009 Year of Science BBBJ Naming Contest.  Tonight’s discussion will cover how a brand new species is validated through genetics, nematocysts, morphology, documentation, and cladistics.  The wider worldwide picture of “Jellies Gone Wild” will be discussed along with stings, citizen science, and Irukandji’s new cousin.

The talk will be held at Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot #26.  All are welcome and entrance is free. (Source:  CIEE)