every single person I tell that I’m a marine biologist in Tucson laughs at me
marine biologist in Tucson laughs at me
marine biologist in Tucson laughs at me and says why is a marine biologist in
and says why is a marine biologist in
and says why is a marine biologist in the desert and I really then explained
the desert and I really then explained
the desert and I really then explained to them well I live in a desert but it’s
to them well I live in a desert but it’s
to them well I live in a desert but it’s not far from the ocean and it’s actually
not far from the ocean and it’s actually
not far from the ocean and it’s actually connected to the ocean so I wanted a way
connected to the ocean so I wanted a way
connected to the ocean so I wanted a way to tell that story generally to people
to tell that story generally to people
to tell that story generally to people who come here from all over the world
who come here from all over the world
who come here from all over the world and think they’re just in a desert
and think they’re just in a desert
and think they’re just in a desert that’s so far from the ocean but they’re
that’s so far from the ocean but they’re
that’s so far from the ocean but they’re actually really connected to the ocean
actually really connected to the ocean
actually really connected to the ocean even as they stand in biosphere to
even as they stand in biosphere to
even as they stand in biosphere to biosphere was built and constructed in
biosphere was built and constructed in
biosphere was built and constructed in 1991 it was the first of its kind to
1991 it was the first of its kind to
1991 it was the first of its kind to every built the University of Arizona
every built the University of Arizona
every built the University of Arizona taking over management in July of 2007
taking over management in July of 2007
taking over management in July of 2007 the notion was is to really think
the notion was is to really think
the notion was is to really think outside the box and how we could use
outside the box and how we could use
outside the box and how we could use biosphere if you want to think of it
biosphere if you want to think of it
biosphere if you want to think of it biosphere really is an Earth Science
biosphere really is an Earth Science
biosphere really is an Earth Science Laboratory our ocean originally it was
Laboratory our ocean originally it was
Laboratory our ocean originally it was designed after a Caribbean reef
designed after a Caribbean reef
designed after a Caribbean reef environment which meant that the
environment which meant that the
environment which meant that the temperature that the water was
temperature that the water was
temperature that the water was maintained at was a relatively narrow
maintained at was a relatively narrow
maintained at was a relatively narrow band that means that you have to use
band that means that you have to use
band that means that you have to use quite a bit of energy and not let the
quite a bit of energy and not let the
quite a bit of energy and not let the temperature drop below your minimum or
temperature drop below your minimum or
temperature drop below your minimum or get above your maximum and by doing so
get above your maximum and by doing so
get above your maximum and by doing so oftentimes you use quite a bit of energy
the ocean is the most expensive biome to
the ocean is the most expensive biome to maintain and in fact when when we took
maintain and in fact when when we took
maintain and in fact when when we took it over there was a serious conversation
it over there was a serious conversation
it over there was a serious conversation as to whether we should just empty it
as to whether we should just empty it
as to whether we should just empty it out but we were still having those sorts
out but we were still having those sorts
out but we were still having those sorts of conversations when Rafe showed up
of conversations when Rafe showed up
of conversations when Rafe showed up when it was a coral reef you actually
when it was a coral reef you actually
when it was a coral reef you actually had to keep it in a very narrow range of
had to keep it in a very narrow range of
had to keep it in a very narrow range of temperature and that causes a lot of
temperature and that causes a lot of
temperature and that causes a lot of cost and energy expenditure in terms of
cost and energy expenditure in terms of
cost and energy expenditure in terms of heating and cooling to really control
heating and cooling to really control
heating and cooling to really control the temperature in a narrow range and
the temperature in a narrow range and
the temperature in a narrow range and that coral reef is basically dead now
that coral reef is basically dead now
that coral reef is basically dead now and so what we have now is a huge ocean
and so what we have now is a huge ocean
and so what we have now is a huge ocean environment with very little life in it
environment with very little life in it
environment with very little life in it and we saw it as an ideal opportunity to
and we saw it as an ideal opportunity to
and we saw it as an ideal opportunity to showcase a regionally appropriate ocean
showcase a regionally appropriate ocean
showcase a regionally appropriate ocean system which is the Gulf of California
system which is the Gulf of California
system which is the Gulf of California in order to show our visitors and
in order to show our visitors and
in order to show our visitors and conduct research on the connections
conduct research on the connections
conduct research on the connections between the desert and the ocean and
between the desert and the ocean and
between the desert and the ocean and what I love and what inspires me is that
what I love and what inspires me is that
what I love and what inspires me is that this is all happening within the
this is all happening within the
this is all happening within the biosphere 2 which is one of the best
biosphere 2 which is one of the best
biosphere 2 which is one of the best living examples we have of big visions
living examples we have of big visions
living examples we have of big visions and practical application coming
and practical application coming
and practical application coming together for a long time there has
together for a long time there has
together for a long time there has really never been that scale of science
really never been that scale of science
really never been that scale of science dedicated to the earth sciences so now
dedicated to the earth sciences so now
dedicated to the earth sciences so now we have an opportunity with the ocean
we have an opportunity with the ocean
we have an opportunity with the ocean project in particular to really think
project in particular to really think
project in particular to really think about it as a tool is you know how do
about it as a tool is you know how do
about it as a tool is you know how do you build an ecological system
rave has already created the vision that
rave has already created the vision that we can educate people about the
we can educate people about the
we can educate people about the importance of the Sea of Cortez to to
importance of the Sea of Cortez to to
importance of the Sea of Cortez to to the desert that we live in
the desert that we live in
the desert that we live in actually the desert that we have now
actually the desert that we have now
actually the desert that we have now would not exist if we didn’t have that
would not exist if we didn’t have that
would not exist if we didn’t have that ocean next to us
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