PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new exhibit, called “Ocean Bound,” opens this weekend at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, taking visitors on a journey through the region’s watersheds to show how the actions of humans on land affect the health of the ocean.
“We all live in a watershed,” said Jennifer Sontchi, senior director of exhibits and public spaces at the museum.
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“Watersheds are basically the areas that are hit by rain” — where the rainwater runs off in either direction toward the ocean. “They are very important to us. Watersheds are sort of the place where water becomes impacted by human activities — in other words, polluted. And this is a look at what is a watershed, how can we protect them, why they are important.”
There are interactive displays with tips on how to become a watershed warrior as well as information from studies of mussels and river otters.
A big part of the exhibit highlights research work being conducted by the Academy’s scientists. For instance, Dr. David Keller, the head of the Fisheries Department at the Academy, is featured in a movie that’s part of the exhibit.
“We were at Crum Creek” — which runs through Chester and Delaware counties — “measuring and assessing the fish community there, measuring the fish that were there, identifying them and then using that information to answer some questions about American eel and how they can serve as some kind of biotic resistance to invasive crayfish,” he said.
In other words: “Can they prevent invasive crayfish where you have American eel?” Keller says that work is ongoing.
Mia Collins, age 9, of Germantown, enrolled in the museum’s summer camp, says she is aware of the need to protect the planet’s water systems.
“Because there’s living creatures in the water, and they need a home,” she said.
And how to help them?
“Well, we can not litter. We can take trash out of the ocean,” she said.
“Ocean Bound” opens Saturday and can be seen through Jan. 15.
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