CANCELED Shell Club Meeting

A silent auction of shells and shell-related items will begin at 1:30 and the meeting will begin at 2:00. The speaker for this month’s meeting will be Dr. J. Bruce Neill, Director of Education at the Sanibel Sea School. Dr. Neill’s presentation entitled “Improving the Ocean’s Future…How Are We Doing?” will focus on observations on the environmental quality of the gulf/SW Florida waters and ecosystem and its wildlife.

Dr. Neill earned his Ph.D. in conservation biology from Montana State University. He has conducted research on coral reef biology and sea urchins, and has held positions at colleges, field schools, and the American Museum of Natural History. Neill’s true passion is teaching – he and his wife, Evelyn, founded Sanibel Sea School, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2005 to help more people connect with the ocean through meaningful, field-based experiences.

Dr. Neill has been an advocate for finding effective water quality solutions for many years, both as an individual and through his work with the Sanibel-Captiva Chapter of START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide), now called Coastal Watch. He speaks regularly to community members about the biology of plankton blooms and the ecological, social, and economic implications of our local water quality challenges.

The auction, meeting, and presentation are free and open to the public. New members are always welcome! Refreshments will be served and there will be door prizes.