Friday, March 17, 2000

MEMORANDUM

TO: Media

From: Mimi Cunningham

DATE: March 17, 2000

RE: Center for Marine Science Press Conference and Luncheon

One Marvin K. Moss Lane (at 5001 Masonboro Loop Road) 11 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2000



When the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in 1995 giving UNC Wilmington funding to build the $17.5 million Center for Marine Science, Chancellor James R. Leutze said in a news conference that this represented a "defining moment" for this university. After six years of planning, site preparation, and construction, the new center on the Intracoastal Waterway at Myrtle Grove Sound is occupied and functioning. We are ready to celebrate the fruition of that "defining moment."

You are cordially invited to a press conference, tour, and VIP luncheon beginning at 11 a.m., Friday, March 24. Speaking at the press conference will be Chancellor Leutze, former Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Marvin K. Moss, under whose leadership the UNC Board of Governors strengthened the role of UNC Wilmington in marine science education and research, and Dr. Daniel Baden, respected marine toxicologist and director of the Center for Marine Science. Keynote speaker will be Admiral James Watkins, president of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Parking is very limited at the center. Working media will be allowed to park there but must display press credentials or drive a vehicle clearly identified as media. Security will ask for your credentials when you turn onto One Marvin K. Moss Lane off Masonboro Road. Also, please call me at 910/962-3171 by Monday, March 20, to let me know who will be attending. Television will be allowed to set up starting at 9 a.m. Non-working press and other guests are required to park at Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church on Piner Road and will be shuttled to the site.

In a separate release, you will receive information about the community open house celebration we are holding from 1-5 p.m., Sunday, March 26 at the Center for Marine Science. We would appreciate your helping us inform the public about this opportunity for them to see this new facility of which UNCW is so proud.

The day before he speaks in Wilmington, Admiral Watkins will have addressed the Oceans Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives on ocean issues of national importance, including the role of oceans in human health and ocean-observing systems. One of these is the importance of coupling oceanographic research with education to understand and mitigate the countryís growing exposure to toxicants in food and water, one of the 21st centuryís biggest quality-of-life issues. These toxicants can be natural or man-made and include lead, mercury, pcbís, and toxins from harmful algal blooms, according to Dr. Baden.

"Just as Vice President Al Gore did at the National Ocean Conference in 1998, CORE is urging all the countryís marine science institutions to link the oceans and human health as a priority for the future," said Dr. Baden. "UNC Wilmington's marine science program grew out of a strong undergraduate marine biology program with intimate ties to K-12 education in the region, then built into research and public service at the middle and high school level. Most other marine science programs in the country started at the graduate level focused on research and are now adding educational components.

"Because of UNCW's intimate coupling of education and research, with the addition of the new Center for Marine Science facility, UNCW can fully realize its potential in coastal ocean sciences.

"Our center and research will lead the pack in integrating across disciplines and training undergraduates and graduate students for the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers. That's where this center will make its mark, because we have all the people to do it," said Dr. Baden.

Dr. Baden can be reached at 910/962-2300