Washington Accelerated Elementary School fourth and fifth graders made the trip on February 17th from Pasadena, CA to the REEF at UCSB in collaboration with the Moorea Coral Reef LTER. The 700 gallon Research Tank at the REEF features a new Coral Reef Exhibit, which acts as a platform to discuss coral reef research and compare coral reef ecosystems to the Californian rocky reefs studied by the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER. Fourth graders at Washington Accelerated learn about coral reefs in the classroom through food web and ecosystem curriculum developed by MCR LTER Education and Outreach staff.

The G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award has been presented annually since 1982 to recognize excellence in any aspect of limnology or oceanography. The award is intended to symbolize the quality and innovations toward which the society strives and to remind its members of these goals. Dr. Alldredge was recognized as a scientist who had made considerable contributions to knowledge, and whose future work promised a continuing legacy of scientific excellence. She will receive her award at the annual ASLO (Advancing the Science of Limnology and Oceanograhy) meeting in June of 2008 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.