Tag Archives: Cuba

HARBOR TO LA HABANA 2025

The excitement is growing as Harbor SEALs packs to leave for the now-annual winter Cuba Field Expedition! Twenty young science scholars accompanied by Marine Biology teacher Mauricio Gonzalez and English teacher Rosie Teverow is packing to embark on three-part scientific testing in the waters of Cuba, working alongside scientists at the Universidad de Habana’s Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, with Dr. Randy Calderon Pena and his students to compare the marine debris in Havana Bay with that of Hudson-Raritan Estuary (a data set compiled since 2012 by Harbor SEALS) measuring contaminants and physical-chemical parameters. This year, under the director of SUNY StonyBrook’s distinguished professor Dr. Henry Bokuniewicz, SEALS adds another exciting project, on SGDs (submarine groundwater discharges) deploying two drum-sized devices designed to collect seepage data as part of a Pan-Caribbean study the Professor is headlining. The devices were constructed in Harbor’s own Welding CTE (thanks to Clark Dennis and students!). This is an exciting opportunity to participate in important international research with an outcome of a possible published paper (a signal honor for our hardworking students.) The third component is a coral reef project to calculate the percent cover of live, sick, and dead coral in order to determine the health of a reef.

SEALS takes our collective hat off to our partners at The Wanderers Club for their tireless support organizationally in making this experience better each time! And to Special Projects (SEA Chair) at Harbor Nan Richardson who originated the trip as a parent (2020 to Colombia, scuppered by Covid), directed it administratively since, and to the students and their parents who worked so hard to fundraise the needed subsidy of $20,000 through bake sales, raffles, funding campaigns–the grassroots team that makes the dream happen each year!

HARBOR TO LA HABANA 2024

The Harbor SEALs embarked on an excursion of a lifetime – to Cuba! 17 young science scholars tested their tenacity in the waters of Cuba for contaminants and physical-chemical parameters. With marine biology gear and bug spray in tow they hiked to remote and well trodden areas all the same to determine if the waters of Cuba were as contaminated as the New York Harbor.

A major shout out goes to our principal donors Jim Tripp & Jeffrey Gural. We also thank our various other generous donors: Lisa Breslof, Elizabeth Butler, Kristy Chau, Joanna Dje, Michelle Eliseo, Raquel Fernandez, Charles Fitzpatrick, Tracy Hogan, Erlyn Ikeda, Sarah Koo, Bill Ma, Drako Macal, Patricia Madsen, Jane McNamara, Peter Morawski, Kathleen Nolan, Alexis Raskin, Julia Ryan, Julio Rodriguez, Lou Siegel, Edward Smith, Hiram / Owen Szeto, Veronica Torres, Tara Tranchina, Karen Valentin, Jessica Woodall, and Yingdi Xiang, & Nami Yamamoto. We had various anonymous donors and we thank them too!

We would also like to thank our school Project Manager: Nan Richardson, travel managers: Wanderers Club, and our former principal: Jeff Chetirko for making trip possible.

Click here to read our daily communiqués.

Jan 20, 2024 at 8:15 PM: We’ve made it safe and sound. No issues on the way. We arrived in Havana and we saw scenery that was eye-opening for all of us. When we got to the house, we got situated and had our first proper meal of the day.

Then we played some card games, socialized, and then went on a walk. The walk was peaceful and we took some time to take in the beauty of Havana and the fact that we’re on an international trip with our peers and mentors.

Happy Birthday Scott!

We then set off to our first sampling location, the Habana Bay, to collect data, which went smoothly.

We then headed to a Cuban nature conservatory where we took a guided hike, stopping to collect/test data and eat lunch.

Our days’ work were mapped out the night before on a hand-written schedule. We encouraged thoughtful memes to establish the theme of the day. “Don’t eat the crust!”

Drones? What drones? The phys-chem team is trying to figure out how (not) to use drones in Cuba.

NYC kids planning their next  adventure: soccer game with locals, then Cuban dance!

Data analysis the old-school way! Right Adam!

…and the classic car ride of a life time!

Our final dinner out with our University of Havana science partners.

Hasta Pronto, Cuba bella!

HARBOR TO LA HABANA 2024

MBRP to Cuba ’24!

Help our budding MBRP scientists make a yearly field trip to Cuba in 2024, where they will be working on a serious field expedition with scientists of the Center for Marine Investigations of the University of Havana and experiencing a true cultural immersion in the Caribbean.

MBRP Class of 2023

You can fund the trip via direct donation, and / or buy a BIO T-shirt $25 to help— and/ or choose to make a general donation to fund other needed items listed: Purchase or Donate Here

( If not fully funded, teachers may elect to direct funds toward items that are most needed. )

All donations directly benefit the Marine Biology program.

Mauricio Gonzalez and all the students thank you very much!

Help us with Planning…
contact Nan Richardson
nanmrichardson@gmail.com
or
Help us get Corporate Funders…
contact Bio Co-Rep Edward Smith
edwardsmith.ny@gmail.com

MBRP @ U of Habana!

Programa de Investigación en Biología Marina

Ayude a nuestros científicos en ciernes a realizar un viaje de campo anual a Cuba en 2024, donde trabajarán en una expedición de campo seria con científicos del Centro de Investigaciones Marinas de la Universidad de La Habana, y experimentarán una verdadera inmersión cultural en el Caribe.

MBRP en el mar Caribe!

Usted puede financiar el viaje a través de donación directa, y / o comprar una camiseta BIO $ 25 para ayudar – y / o optar por hacer una donación general para financiar otros artículos necesarios enumerados: Compre o done aqui

MBRP inmersos en la cultura habanera.

( Si no está totalmente financiado, los profesores pueden optar por dirigir los fondos hacia los elementos que son más necesarios. )

Todas las donaciones benefician directamente al programa de Biología Marina.

¡Mauricio González y todos los estudiantes muchas gracias!

MBRP en el Malecon!