The End! Abstracts
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Full Abstract
Our oceans and waterways are polluted by plastics and other synthetic non-biodegradable materials. Marine debris is commonly mistaken by marine species as prey, such as jellyfish. While many medusae have been viewed in aquaria for a few decades, few have seen the plastic bag variety circulating around in captivity; however, in the wild the environmental consequences of this species are many. The Ocean Institute always strives to produce effective methods of environmental education; a visual of the issue at hand speaks volumes. Through trial and tribulations, a successful display of plastic bags that resemble jellyfish is now possible for any budget and utilizing existing systems. Material selection, methods for creating your very own smack of jellies, and their husbandry is key to establishing this impactful exhibit. Apparently, plastic bags do look like jellyfish—to a sea turtle…and humans too. |
CREATING A PLAN FOR
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE AQUARIUM INDUSTRY: WHY REINVENT THE GRAVEL VAC? Megan Olhasso, Georgia Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The aquarium industry, like many others, is nearing a time of great generational turnover. The outgoing generation put public aquariums on the map and has made our industry what it is today. In A Note on Knowledge Management, Artemis March writes that a large amount of professional knowledge is the property of individuals, not the firm. All too often, when an employee leaves an organization, their expertise leaves with them (1997). Although our industry is one of shared ideas, methods, and knowledge, it is the critical thinking skills - the essential components of a capable, skilled person who can work in an autonomous environment, learn from failure, and deliver results - that have not only advanced us to where we are today, but are also the most difficult to pass on. In our present situation of impending generational turnover, the significance and necessity of taking action to impart as much knowledge as possible is crucial to the development of our industry. We have the opportunity to proactively strategize and implement methods of preserving our industry knowledge for the next generation of aquarists. This paper will address the concept of knowledge management and analyze significant examples in the hopes of being a catalyst for further progress. |