Congressman Baird to Host Live Internet Briefing with Washington Students from the World's Only Undersea Lab

Press Release

At 12:00 PST on Thursday, November 13th, students and teachers in Southwest Washington will be able to virtually join Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) for a discussion on global warming and other issues facing the world's oceans. Congressman Baird will hold the briefing live from the Aquarius lab, the world's only underwater research facility. Students and teachers will be able to access the live feed from Congressman Baird's website, and will have the opportunity be able to submit questions for him, and the scientists conducting research at the lab.

Aquarius is considered America's Innerspace Station. It sits 60 feet below the ocean surface four miles offshore from Key Largo, Florida. Congressman Baird will dive down to the lab, meet with scientists, and see their work firsthand before hosting the briefing for students.

Congressman Baird is Congress' leading advocate in the search for solutions to the problem of ocean acidification which threatens the survival of everything from plankton, to shellfish, to coral reefs and countless other aquatic species. The loss of these ecosystems could affect billions of people around the world who depend on the ocean for their food, or their livelihood, including many people in Southwest Washington.

"From the people who work in the seafood and shellfish industry, to those who enjoy our maritime resources, the consequences of an increasingly acidic ocean to the people of Washington could be nothing short of catastrophic," said Congressman Baird. "This briefing is a chance to discuss the problems with the next generation of leaders and researchers, who could potentially play a major role in finding the solution to this problem."

Reporters who would like to watch the briefing live should log on to Congressman Baird's website at www.house.gov/baird and click on the Aquarius Briefing button.

Reporters who would like to visit a participating classroom should contact Garrett Russo at Garrett.Russo@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3536

Source