The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium goes under the Sea With Latin-Themed Event

Photo credit: South Florida Science Center and Aquarium/Esteban Parchuc Photo ID: Joel Quesada, 6, West Palm Beach

Photo credit: South Florida Science Center and Aquarium/Esteban Parchuc Photo ID: Joel Quesada, 6, West Palm Beach

Inaugural “Festival del Mar” aims to engage new audiences; teach about ocean conservation...

West Palm Beach, FL - Science, sun, sea and fun – that is what leadership at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is promising at its inaugural “Festival del Mar” event.  Aimed at engaging the local Latin American community, the day-long event on Sunday, May 17, will explore ocean conservation with a variety of activities and presentations in Spanish.    

 “As STEM fields based in science, technology, engineering and math become more popular, it is important to make sure that we are engaging all science seekers – regardless of age, gender and ethnic background,” said Lew Crampton, Science Center CEO.  “As part of our going initiative to reach all members of our community with top-notch programming, we are excited to host the inaugural ‘Festival del Mar.’ The day-long event is sure to be a hit with a variety of presentations, labs and activities being presented in both Spanish and English.”

From noon – 4 p.m., guests can enjoy a variety of activities, including live Latin music, bilingual aquarium feedings and touch tank demonstrations, story time by the Palm Beach County Library System, cultural dance performances, a water safety presentation by the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County, a dance performance by Forest Hill High School Falcon X Dance Team and Iq Balam of Lake Worth and several different arts and crafts stations. 

“Festival del Mar” is presented in partnership with several different local organizations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, El Sol, Jupiter's Neighborhood Resource Center, Humana Health Insurance and the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. 

According to Crampton, the event’s goal is to encourage Latinos to pursue careers in science.  “Statistics show that while Latinos typically pursue majors in STEM fields equal to their Caucasian peers, they are significantly less likely to earn a degree or certificate,” said Crampton. “While Hispanics make up 20 percent of the country’s youth population, they represent only 2 percent of the STEM workforce, even though they present a strong interest in STEM fields.  This statistic creates a significant opportunity to engage interested science seekers with targeted events moving forward.”

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, named the 2014 Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches’ nonprofit of the year, features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall and an interactive Everglades exhibit.  Eww! What’s Eating You?, the Science Center’s special summer traveling exhibition, will be on display during “Festival del Mar” and is included with admission.  Eww! What’s Eating You? is a parade of parasites, including preserved and live specimens – specifically those that enjoy feasting on humans.  The highly-interactive summer exhibit digs into the history of human and parasite interaction from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, leading up to a more modern tale of sinister and saint critters that live to hitch a ride on human hosts – for the good or the bad.

Admission to “Festival del Mar” is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 60 and over, and free for children under 12. Science Center members are free. For more information, please visit www.sfsciencecenter.org or call 561-832-1988.