 |
Evan B Forde - 1st Black Oceanographer
|
|
|
Blacksonville Community Network (BCN)
Media Release
(904) 764-7828
marketing@blacksonville.com
PEOPLE OF COLOR SCIENCE &
INVENTION EXHIBIT (POSCIE) INTRODUCES THE “FIRST BLACK” LECTURE SERIES IN TRIBUTE
TO “ISAIAH BLOCKER DAY”
The People of Color Exhibit, Inc., Zarephath Academy and Evangelist James
Graham Outreach Ministry kickoff a monthly lecture series “Unleashing Potential
to a New Generation” beginning August 15-16, 2008 in preparation of the grand re-opening
of Davis Street School as a private Science and Technology Academy for middle
and high school students. Delegates of the initiative highly encourage the
entire community to honor Mr. Forde and join in rallying students and parents
for the upcoming school year.
Mr. Forde returns to his roots by way of his deceased parents, originally born,
reared and educated in Deep South Jacksonville, Florida. His endearing
love for family and generational wisdom has intensified Mr. Evan’s strong
desire to mentor children in hopes of building fervor in student’s interaction
with science, math and chemistry in early and advance education.
On August 15th at 3:00pm the professional, educational and business
community of Jacksonville will host a welcome reception for Mr. Evan B. Forde, the
United States’ top living African-American Oceanographer, in a family day of
hospitality, cultural awareness and fun at A. Philip Randolph Park, 1096 A.
Philip Randolph Blvd. Representatives from area faith-based institutions and
civic government will be on hand to also support the lecture series. The event
is FREE to the public and will provide food and beverages as a fundraiser for
POCSIE. All media is invited to
capture this historic affair.
Mr. Forde will join the First Coast community again on
August 16th beginning at 10:00am for a tour and site development showcase of
the old Isaiah Blocker School (formerly Davis Street School) located 2335 Davis
Street in commemoration of “Isaiah Blocker Day”. Isaiah Blocker was the
former principal of the prestigious school.
We are asking all former students of Isaiah Blocker to please join us in
these festivities.
For more information on the event or to volunteer or become a vendor please
call 904-768-2955 or 800.863.9130, ext. 7180.
--------------------------------
 
 The
mission of the People of Color Science & Invention Exhibit is to empower
the community with little known facts about history and culture of indigenous
contributions to the world. The moving exhibit hopes to feature more than 1,000
artifacts of symbols and historical figures, including ancient papyrus, images
of Ramses, musicals by James Weldon Johnson, and much more. “Those who are able
to witness firsthand the remarkable contributions of black, brown, and red
people to society cannot avoid the expression of pride and human dignity their
inventions leave on us,” says founder Ernestine Johnson. “We hope to spread
this power to all youth and the broader community“.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 EVAN B. FORDE – BIO
The
first speaker of the People of Color Science & Invention Expo Lecture
Series will be Mr. Evan B. Forde is the most renowned African-American
Oceanographer of our time. Currently stationed at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological
Laboratory (AOML) in Miami Florida, he has served the scientific community
relentlessly since 1973.
Evan Forde has also worked
extensively in the area of science education.
Extremely modest about his educational accomplishments over the years,
Mr. Forde has degrees in Geology and Marine Geology and Geophysics (B.A., M.
A.) from Columbia University in New York City. His knack to apply
knowledge in the science and technology arena has also earned Mr. Forde national
recognition as an authority on the formation, evolution and sedimentary
processes of U. S. east coast submarine canyons.
He developed and taught graduate level courses on Tropical Meteorology targeted
towards K-12 teachers, authored science experiments in a children’s magazine
for three years, and created a Severe Weather Poster for NOAA that was
distributed nationally to 50,000 teachers by the National Science Teacher
Association. Forde has spoken to greater than 25,000 school children
through presentations about his oceanographic and academic careers. He
has been the subject of two museum exhibits, including a current display in the
Greater Explorations section of the Staten Island Children’s Museum and he has
featured in a number of periodical articles, numerous science text books as
well as many other books and publications on prominent African American
scientists. Forde is an accomplished public speaker, who has been awarded
the competent communicator recognition by Toastmaster’s International. He
has a host of career and community awards that include being named NOAA's
Environmental Research Laboratories EEO Outstanding Employee and NOAA Research
Employee of the Year. Mr. Forde is an outstanding scientist and inventor.
He is involved in many outreach programs and is dedicated to sharing his
enthusiasm for science with school-aged children.
As the first African American
scientist to participate in research dives aboard a submersible, he has
completed successful submersible dive expeditions in several submarine canyons
utilizing ALVIN, the JOHNSON SEALINK and NEKTON GAMMA. Additional
scientific research by Evan includes studies of gravity-induced mass sediment
movements on continental slopes, 3-dimensional mapping of undersea hydrothermal
plumes, and the utilization of satellite sensors for cutting-edge hurricane
research.
More
research on Evan B. Forde >
Official Website: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/forde
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Forde
Academic Achievements: http://www3.nsta.org/main/news/stories/science_teacher.php?category_ID=88&news_story_ID=48668
Govt. Research: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/africanamericans.html
|