COMPASS partners with DC Science Café

In partnership with the DC Science Café, COMPASS brought scientists Walter Boynton from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and  Jim Cloern from the U.S. Geological Survey in San Francisco, to lead the May 15th Café at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC.  The DC Science Cafe is a monthly discussion that gives the general public an opportunity to participate in lively and important discussions about the consequential scientific discoveries and issues of our times. This event marked the one year anniversary of the Science Café series, and was the first occasion that an environmental or marine science topic was addressed.

Boynton and Cloern discussed ecological change in the Chesapeake and San Francisco Bays; they have each devoted more than 30 years studying their respective systems.  The scientists showed examples of how nutrient pollution, biological communities (crabs, clams, etc), and climate shifts have influenced patterns of ecological health or degradation over time, and shared some of their more surprising findings.   Their talks were followed by a lively discussion with the audience- 50 scientists, science writers and science enthusiasts (many of whom enjoyed the signature cocktail created for the event: the "bay water").  Following Walter Boynton's answer to one question about why and how Chesapeake Bay mixes annually, the asker responded: "Wow!  I want you to keep talking and tell me more!"

The scientists charmed the crowd, and by all measures, the event was a huge success. COMPASS would like to thank Ivan Amato and Busboys and Poets for hosting the Café- hopefully the first of many such collaborations.