Gussenhoven Lecture: Tracy Fanara, Mote Marine Laboratory

UNC-CH’s Department of Marine Sciences is proud to host Dr. Tracy Fanara as this year’s Gussenhoven sponsored lecturer. This event is scheduled for Friday, April 12th, at 4:00pm in room G201 on the ground floor of Murray Hall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This seminar will also be broadcast live to both UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences room 222 and online via Zoom (Meeting ID: 223-741-558).

Presenter Affiliation: Mote Marine Laboratory

Title: Protecting Public Health Through Innovation and Citizen Science

Abstract: In her talk, Dr. Fanara will discuss neurotoxins from Karenia brevis blooms and how they threaten aquatic and human health. When toxic aerosols are present, respiratory irritation, or respiratory illness in people with chronic respiratory disease, can ensue, adversely impacting recreation, economics, and quality of life. Informing the public of beach conditions is an effective strategy to protect beachgoers by encouraging visits to unaffected beaches. Three modern approaches to information dissemination and data collection were developed to inform and empower the public through citizen science and to protect public health during a bloom. However, what tools can be used to prevent prolonged duration or increased intensity from land-derived nutrients? As stormwater is the largest non-point source of pollution, treating nutrients at the source should be the status quo. Changes at the regulatory level may take time, but there are things citizens can do to help now.

Bio: Dr. Tracy Fanara is an engineer and research scientist with a BS, ME, and PhD from the University of Florida’s Environmental Engineering department. After some stormchasing and spending almost a decade designing water projects all over the world, Tracy now manages the Environmental Health Program at Mote Marine Laboratory where she investigates human impacts on the environment, and the effects of marine and freshwater chemicals on public health. To enhance data collection, educate the public, and rapidly disseminate time sensitive information, Tracy manages citizen science programs with over 1 million users. You may have seen Tracy on the Science Channel show, “MythBusters: The Search”, or as a guest expert on The Weather Channel AMHQ and Fox’s Awesome Planet, and you can see her weekly on the nationally syndicated, ABC’s Animal Outtakes.