Nationally Syndicated TV Show "Aqua Kids" Films at COMB

Baltimore, MD - John Stubblefield and Bridget Bystry, faculty research assistants at UMBI's Center of Marine Biotechnology, spent several hours this past weekend with Molly McKinney and Bilal Bahar the co-hosts of "Aqua Kids". This nationally syndicated television program is designed to engage children 7-14 years in age in a variety of marine research efforts as well as address ecological issues. "Aqua Kids" is in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The National Aquarium in Washington D.C., and North Bay Adventure. The show airs on both the Black Family Channel on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and next year on the Water Channel, which will be available to Dish Network users in March 2006. In Washington D.C., the show airs on WJAL-TV at 7:30 a.m. every Monday.

   
(1st photo left "Aqua Kids" co-hosts Bilal Bahar and Molly McKinney introduce the show. 2nd photo right the hosts tell the kids about the COMB facility.)

Aquaculture was the focus of the program filmed at UMBI's Columbus Center. As part of the process, "Aqua Kids" toured the aquaculture research facility to learn more about the blue crab hatchery project and UMBI's fully re-circulated finfish aquaculture technologies. The faculty research assistants explained to the children how this work may help bring back the breeding stock of the blue crab in the Chesapeake Bay and how our technology may help increase seafood supplies around the world.

   
(1st photo left COMB Research Assistant John Stubblefield talks to the kids and the host about COMB's aquaculture efforts w/finfish like the Rockfish & Sea Bream. 2nd photo left COMB Research Assistant Bridget Bystry talks about COMB's blue crab program.)

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Celebrating our 20th anniversary year, UMBI is Maryland's premier biotechnology research institute within the University System of Maryland and was established in 1985. The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) consists of five major research and education centers and is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology. UMBI’s centers of research include: CARB, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology located in Rockville; CBR, the Center for Biosystems Research located in College Park; and COMB, the Center of Marine Biotechnology, MBC, the Medical Biotechnology Center, and IHV, the Institute of Human Virology, all located in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.umbi.umd.edu