On April 29th, a meeting will be held to showcase one of Baja California Sur’s rarest natural phenomena: the underwater sandfalls of San Lucas Bay.
Cruz del Carmen Juárez Olvera, coordinator of Café Científico La Paz, explained that this initiative seeks to democratize scientific knowledge through a free activity that aims to bring scientific knowledge to the public in an informal and accessible environment.
“During the presentation, they will explain that the sandfalls of the aforementioned bay are a spectacular phenomenon formed by a coastal drift and an underwater canyon that causes sand to slide through a rocky slope between 20 and 60 meters deep.”
She added that they were discovered in 1959 by researcher Shepard of the Scripps School of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, and that their formations are considered unique in the state.
“We prefer to bring scientific coffee to the public so they can be informed and learn more about what research is being done here in our state.”
The coordinator indicated that this event is presented as an alternative to break down barriers between specialists and the public so that the research being conducted in the state can be publicized.
“We don’t require that the person who attends be a specialist. As long as they are interested in the topic and feel comfortable in an environment enjoying a coffee, a soft drink, or lemonade.”
Who is the speaker and what is their background?
The next session, to be held on April 29th, will feature oceanologist Lucio Godinez Horta, who will share his experience on expeditions and scuba diving in the area.
He is a graduate of the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the Autonomous University of Baja California, with a master’s degree in Marine Sciences and a doctorate in sustainable coastal zone management.
Since 1982, he has been a research professor at the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Sciences.
His career includes scientific publications, a specialized book chapter, and teaching experience in courses on marine geology, scientific oceanography, and coastal lagoons.
His participation in the Scientific Café represents a unique opportunity to learn about the technical and experiential aspects of sandfalls.
“Meeting a specialist who will talk to us about this phenomenon is very gratifying because it helps us all learn. This natural phenomenon is studied from an oceanographic perspective to understand its effects on the fertilization of water bodies and on local marine communities.”
Where will the event take place?
The event will be held at a local restaurant, located on Mexico Street, between Oaxaca and Nayarit, in the Prensa, Radio y TV neighborhood, at 6:00 PM, to facilitate interaction between the public and the specialist.
Juárez Olvera stated that Café Científico has proven to be an effective platform for disseminating topics that would normally remain in academic circles, which contributes to the dissemination of undiscovered topics.
Attendees will have the opportunity to see projections, images, and scientific data about this natural phenomenon, which is usually only available through documentaries.
Source: oem
