Marine scientist and conservationist Dr. David E. Guggenheim, the “Ocean Doctor,” is president of the nonprofit organization, Ocean Doctor in Washington, DC, dedicated to ocean conservation. He has been featured on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America and numerous other media.
Dr. Guggenheim will provide a Fireside Chat at Muse Vineyards discussing his nearly 20 years as an American working in Cuba in collaboration with Cuban marine scientists to study and protect its coral ecosystems, presented against a backdrop of Cold War-era politics, maddening bureaucracy, and the daily challenges of Cuban life. His account simultaneously traces his passion for coral reefs from his teen years to the present and the heartbreaking death of the reefs he had so treasured – along with half of the coral reefs in the Caribbean. Scientists around the world are now in a desperate race to prevent the complete loss of coral reefs that some predict could happen by the end of the century.
Through Guggenheim’s experiences, he introduces us to Cuba’s remarkably healthy coral reefs, a “living time machine” harboring healthy coral reefs. the first time offering hope that perhaps Cuba – which chose a much different path of development than the rest of the Caribbean – holds the key to the protection and restoration of coral reefs everywhere. He will also provide short readings from his forthcoming book, DEEP in Enemy Territory: An American’s 20-Year Odyssey in Cuba and the Desperate Race to Save the World’s Coral Reefs.
Enjoy a cozy and informative evening by the fireplace in the tasting room and enjoy Muse Vineyard’s award-winning wines.
This is a free event. Please register for your ticket(s).
