Earth Day, Every Day!: Coral 101

Kelly Drinnen returns to our program! Join Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary to discover the ins and outs of coral. 
Are corals animals, plants or minerals? How do they build reefs? How do they reproduce? What is coral bleaching?
Kelly will provide a basic introduction to coral biology, coral spawning, and how human interactions affect coral reefs. Science shows that even with climate change and other obstacles, corals can adapt and survive if we strive to keep them healthy. 

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 
Basic Information about Coral Reefs | US EPA

Kelly Drinnen is an Education and Outreach Specialist with NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and has been teaching marine science as an informal educator for over 30 years, including positions in Education at Moody Gardens and SeaWorld of Florida.  She is also a certified elementary school teacher in Texas and taught 4th grade for two years in South Houston. Her work with the sanctuary includes community events, presentations, conferences, teacher workshops, lesson development, social media, and the sanctuary's website, as well as collaborations with zoos and aquariums. She is also a certified SCUBA diver and has occasionally assisted with offshore research and monitoring activities. Kelly has a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish, with a minor in Mathematics, from James Madison University in Virginia.