Chamber guest talks sea turtles, science
Moultrie News Nov. 25, 2024
Aiding sick sea turtles by nursing them back to health was foremost on the mind of South Carolina Aquarium President/CEO Kevin Mills during his recent rundown of latest happenings at the Charleston-based conservation and education venue.
With the aquarium's 25th anniversary just months away, Mills filled in attendees at the Nov. 21 Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on the progress achieved in the rehabilitation of several sea turtle species.
He recounted the aquarium's initial effort in the cause back in 2000 by taking in a loggerhead that had washed ashore and was the verge of death. And though the facility was far from fully equipped for the task, the sea turtle known as "Stinky" recovered within a matter of months and was released back to sea.
Thanks to a transmitting device attached to the creature, the aquarium located the sea turtle 10 years later, thriving and fully grown off the coast of Georgia.
Since then, the aquarium basement, which serves as an emergency care and triage center, has expanded due to a Zucker family initiative in 2017 to build a first floor rehab unit.
The addition now allows visitors to look into tanks where the endangered reptiles are recuperating.
Further, the guest speaker noted the presence of screens at the aquarium that invite kids to imagine and replicate sea turtle recovery by viewing case studies. Through the power of "augmented reality," in fact, curious knowledge seekers are encouraged to be the vets and determine how to bring a sea turtle patient back to life.
"All sea turtle species on the planet are endangered; there are seven altogether. So, we're committed to make sure they're around," stated Mills, a Mount Pleasant resident.
"And what we learned from these experiences is that if you engage the public in this work, they will respond. They will take care and want to take care of these animals."
The response he alluded to has resulted in several residents volunteering their time in the quest to take all seven species off the endangered list. And due to the massive number of people who come out to witness a sea turtle released back into its natural environment, the aquarium gives the public only one-day's notice of the event to avoid excess traffic congestion.
Other amenities at the downtown aquarium include Blue Mind chairs that people can use to look out into the harbor and reap the benefits of observing the sea, according to Mills. To that end, the chairs' therapeutic effects are currently being enjoyed by Veteran groups, as well as neurodivergent children in need of a dose of tranquility and recovery.
The married father of two went on to communicate the aquarium's educational services to two million youngsters in the interest of educating and inspiring them to think about nature and pursue STEM careers.
"So, when kids come to the aquarium, it's more than a field trip. It's an extension of their learning. It contributes to their grades, and it's work that they do before and after they come to the aquarium," he added regarding free STEM classroom services for K-12 students.
In order to include schools from other parts of the state in the STEM-related learning activities, the aquarium travels out to classrooms outside of the Charleston area with education vans.
What's more, distance learning services, continued Mills, are available to students around the globe through the miracle of remote streaming via digital media.
The aquarium has set its sights on accessing all 50 states and 52 countries on six continents in that regard.
Most recently, the destination site has entered a lease agreement with the City of Charleston to operate four additional classrooms in a newly-built edifice, located at the Charleston Maritime Center along the waterfront.
The building — originally built for fisherman and shrimpers to sell their products — will more than double the number of children treated to educational programming, per Mills.
A ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the instructional center, known as the Boeing Learning Lab, is slated for Jan. 31.
"So, we'll have teen programming in the afternoon, teen science cafes, and really be able to push education to the max on the waterfront," observed 18th-year aquarium executive
