USF Invites the Public to a Free Lecture from Marine Biologist Ellen Prager

TAMPA, Fla. (April 10, 2018) – Dr. Ellen Prager, science advisor to Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos Islands and former chief scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base, is coming to the David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts on April 18 for an event hosted by the University of South Florida. Prager is expected to deliver a lecture about strange creatures in the ocean, the way they live their lives and the importance of their preservation. Appearing as part of the university’s Frontier Forum lecture series, the free event is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. in Ferguson Hall. Prior to the lecture, graduate students from the USF Department of Integrative Biology will be in the lobby presenting their research on various topics related to marine biology.

Prager is a marine scientist and author, widely recognized for her expertise and ability to make science entertaining and understandable for people of all ages.

Prager has appeared on a number of national television networks, including ABC, CNN, Fox News and The Weather Channel, discussing her work and serving as a spokesperson for earth and ocean science. Her books include the eco-adventure series Tristan Hunt and the Sea Guardians and Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime: The Oceans’ Oddest Creatures and Why They Matter. Research expeditions have taken her to locations around the world, such as the Galapagos Islands, the Caribbean, Papua New Guinea and the Bahamas. Prager is also a former assistant dean at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Presented by USF Phi Beta Kappa alumni faculty, and sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Office of the Provost, the USF Frontier Forum lecture series has hosted several notable speakers since 2010 including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, George Takei, Jane Goodall, and Scott Freiman.

Paid parking for the event is available in the William F. Poe garage, with free street spaces available after 6 p.m. There is pre-paid parking available at Rivergate Tower and the Royal Regional Lot. For reasonable accommodations, please contact Christina Goldstein: cvgoldstein@usf.edu.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three, separately accredited institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 49,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the Top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2016, the Florida Legislature designated USF as “Emerging Preeminent,” placing USF in an elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.