Punta Galeta: Many Places in One (long version)

Galeta Point Marine Laboratory is a field station of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal. Panamanian film maker Enrique Castro captures the story of Galetas research, education and public outreach programs using the narrative of Dr. Stanley Heckadon-Moreno. For fifty years scientists have studied local coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove forests. The camera follows Dr. Wayne Sousa, University of California at Berkley, as he studies his long term mangrove plots. Ricardo Thompson describes the scientific instruments that record key physical data that determine if the Caribbean is changing. Heckadon recalls Galetas environmental education program that has built bridges between the scientific research and the Panamanian classrooms; and the public outreach programs, one with the fishermen of the barrio of La Playita; the other The Smithsonian Talk of the Month were STRI scientist explain to the community the nature of their research. The film shows the current threats facing Galeta given the ongoing destructive style of economic development.

Category:

Education