​ ONE WORLD ONE OCEAN The Adventures of Ed the Bear
ED THE BEAR HAS LEARNED FROM MANY EXPERTS
A major part of Ed the Bears travels have been to visit scientists and other experts around the world who are studying the oceans or helping to protect them. Ed was keen to find out more about these global conservation problems and witness it first hand so he can share his experiences with others.
In 2010, Ed the Bear was invited to, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. Ed was a guest with NOAA for 7 months as he travelled around many of the National Marine Sanctuaries that they look after.
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While Ed was with NOAA he discovered how scientists are measuring changes in the oceans with complex equipment and what they had learned. Ed the Bear also explored a wide range of marine environments and has encountered some amazing wildlife. Ed travelled with NOAA mascot Sanctuary Sam, a sealion.
Ed the Bear was not a very good swimmer but he was keen to explore beneath the sea and so NOAA organised a diving bell to be built for Ed so he could dive on coral reefs, expore ship wrecks and much more.
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The Diving Bell was built by another Ed, Ed Williams, who at the time worked for a company called IRobot. Ed Williams no longer works for IRobot but has carried on his work building underwater vehicles. Ed Williams has remained an advisor for Ed's Diving Bell and hopes to develop this further in the future.
In 2010 Ed the Bear visited the National Black Scuba Divers Youth Educational Summit. Ed met Ken Stewart who runs the Tennessee Aquatic Project (TAP) and some of the Tap Youths. He has been invited back each year since to take part in the Youth Summit. The youth, aged 8 - 18, have also helped to create part of Ed the Bears story and helped his to share his messages about the oceans. Ed the Bear developed a special friendship with Lisa who took great care of Ed the Bear while he was attendimg the youth summits. Also see our schools page.
In 2010 Ed the Bear met Ron Hirshi and Fred the Monkey o​n Marrowstone Island. Ed the Bear travelled with Ron and Fred for their first visit to the Hawaiian Islands.
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Ron and Fred taught Ed a lot about the problems of plastic pollution, in particular the many Laysan Albatross on the Hawaiian Islands that have died because of swallowing plastic. The chicks are especially vulnerable as they are accidentally fed plastic by their parents. Fred gifted Ed a neclace (Lei) made from a leg band from a chick that died from plastic pollution. Scientists originally put the ring on the chick to study it when it left the islands, but sadly like many, it was not to be.
Ed the Bear has met many scientists including Dr Dave Vaughn who is growing corals at the Mote Laboratory in Florida.
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When the corals are big enough Dr Vaugn takes them out to sea to help repair a local reef that has been damaged.
In 2012 Ed the Bear visited world renowned shark experts Chris and Monique Fallows. Ed learned about great white sharks, why they are such amazing animals and sadly why they are endangered.
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Many people are afraid of sharks, but only 5 to 15 people are kiilled by sharks each year. This is still sad when this happens. Humans kill over 1 million sharks a year.
In 2011 Ed the Bear was invited to take part in a live link with the subaquanauts on Aquarius undersea Laboratory off the coast of Florida. The project was called 'If Reefs Could Talk' and was a live link with Aquarius and several schools in USA. Aquanauts can live underwater in Aquarius for several weeks allowing them to study the reef without needing to keep returning to the surface.
Ed the Bear has meet many other experts on his travels who have helped him on his journey and shared their knowledge with him.
