Dr. Widder Part of Strategic Sciences Working Group Team
In May 2010, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) established a Strategic Sciences Working Group (SSWG) to access how the Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill may impact the ecology, economy, and people of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). It included scientists from diverse disciplines and federal, academic, and nongovernmental organizations. The SSWG was not to conduct a scientiic investigation, but to provide rapid scientific assessment of potential consequences of the spill that could provide usable knowledge to decision-makers.
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Eye-in-the-Sea to be Included in Giant Squid Hunt
After almost a year in the depths of the Monterey Canyon, ORCA’s moored Eye-in-the-Sea camera (world’s first deep-sea web cam) is on dry land for awhile as we begin to analyze the enormous stores of digitized video data it produced. Over the summer, student intern Gregor Bwye from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, has turned up some exciting results demonstrating the effectiveness of combining stealthy recording techniques with the e-jelly lure. Edie shared these results with... Story

Bioluminescence Review Published in Scientific American
Marine biologists estimate that between 80 and 90 percent of deep-sea creatures are bioluminescent—they produce light through chemical processes. Like the deep sea itself, the reasons why many of these organisms flash, twinkle and gleam remain mysterious to science. But in the past decade marine biologist Edith "Edie" Widder has tackled more puzzles about undersea bioluminescence than any other researcher. Read Article

Dr. Widder to Speak at the 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen, CO - July 5 thru July 11, 2010 | Some of the world's most inspired and provocative thinkers, writers, artists, business people, teachers, and leaders are gathered here. Each day, they will teach, speak, lead, question, and interact with an audience ready to delve into a world of ideas, thought, and discussion. Learn More

TCPalm: Research Group Not Waiting for Government Action
While surface oil is being surveyed in the Gulf of Mexico, little data is being collected on the damage being caused underwater. Much of the problem for the failure to collect data is that the federal government has allowed BP to make decisions since it has committed to funding protection and cleanup operations. And, Widder said, it may not be in BP’s best interests to help collect scientific data that would demonstrate the extent of damages. Read Article

BP Lacks Sense of Urgency, Scientist Says
Frustrated by BP’s control of the purse strings, and therefore the scientific efforts to monitor the largest oil spill in U.S. history, one South Florida researcher has launched her own effort to guard the state’s eastern shores. Deep sea explorer Edith Widder, founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association, began collecting sediment samples this week at inlets from Miami to Sebastian, including those in Palm Beach County. Read Article

Latest Technology System Deployed in the Choptank River
Ft. Pierce, Florida - May 17, 2010 | The Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA) announced today that it has deployed a water quality monitoring system called Kilroy to determine watershed flow patterns and physical water characteristics from Island Creek into the Choptank River of Chesapeake Bay. The Kilroy system is compiling data for water flow speeds, flow direction, temperature, wave height and water depth.

Floridathinks.com Interview: ‘There’s No Making This Right’
Marine scientist and deep-sea explorer Dr. Edith “Edie” Widder sums up what’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico in three words: “a hideous stain.” On Monday, Widder shared with FloridaThinks her observations on the destruction underway in the Gulf from the BP oil spill. Read Article

Revolutionary Water Monitoring Deployment in Manatee Pocket
Manatee Pocket, Port St. Lucie, FL - February 18, 2010 | ORCA has deployed a revolutionary water monitoring system in the Manatee Pocket in Florida. The new system can combine sediment toxicity data with water quality and flow data, to create a more complete picture of the relationship between toxic sediments and their impact on the ecosystem. This is a particularly important project because Manatee Pocket... Story

Dr. Widder Speaks With WPTV About Kilroy
..."Kilroy" is the name for a water monitoring device developed by Dr. Edie Widder, founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association in Ft. Pierce. The device is the size of a large coffee mug mounted on metal feet. Kilroy is a series of circuits encased in plastic, powered by the sun, and designed to measure water quality, temperature, wave dynamics and more. In February, Widder deployed 10 Kilroys in the Indian River Lagoon... Story

Fantastic Dive On Costa Rica's Las Gemelas Seamount Is First Ever!
ORCA’s Edie Widder describes the first deep dive made to explore the Las Gemelas seamounts near Cocos Island, Costa Rica. The dive, made with fellow marine scientist Dr. Bruce Robison of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and DeepSee submersible pilot and owner Avi Klapfer was part of a National Geographic Expedition involving a team of leading marine scientists from Central America and across the globe, including NatGeo’s Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle. Story

Goliath Grouper Conservation Update
Read about the range-wide status and conservation of the Goliath grouper in the journal Endangered Species Research, one of the sister journals of the Inter-Research group which also publishes Marine Ecology Progress Series and other important scientific journals. The special issue includes the most up to date information on the species, resulting from a recent workshop. Most of the research has been conducted in Florida. Story