| |
|
Sailing Science Center News
September 2024
Vol. 8, No. 1
| |
|
Welcome to the September issue of the Sailing Science Center News! This marks the first issue of the newsletter's eighth year of publication! The theme this month is Sustainability. Sustainability is a huge part of the World Conversation these days, and something we should all care about. Learn what the UN is doing about it in this month's spotlight.
Some of you may have noticed that we skipped the August issue, as we took a month off from the newsletter to focus on our events. We're back this month with lots of great recaps and previews of things to come. At the top of that list is the SSC 2024 Gala, November 9 at the Encinal Yacht Club. Tickets go on sale September 10 from the SSC website. Mark your calendar now!
| | | | |
Do you like what we are doing? We depend on donations from people like you to keep it going. If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so. If you have donated, Thank You, we appreciate your support and hope you will continue helping to make the vision of a larger, permanent museum a reality. | | | | |
|
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM
ALAMEDA, CA
| |
|
GET READY TO PLAY IT AGAIN!
AT THE
SSC'S 5TH ANNUAL GALA!
| |
TICKETS GO ON SALE SEPTEMBER 10 | |
|
We are planning an extra special auction this year with unique items that can't be found anywhere else. We are also seeking corporate sponsors. Use the links below to be part of this.
Note: We updated the Auction Donation form to remove the login requirement.
| | | | |
UN Sustainable Development Goals | |
|
In July, the Sailing Science Center supported SailGP for their world class sailing event on San Francisco Bay (see below). We did this through the SailGP Inspire program, the community, education, and outreach component of SailGP, founded on the belief that sailing can be a force for good (Indeed!).
A change in the 2024 Inspire program from 2023, was a shift in focus from STEM education to sustainability, with the new program being framed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SailGP Impact League, founded in SailGP’s 2nd season, backs this commitment with an Impact Trophy to recognize team efforts toward the SDGs.
| |
|
While the shift away from STEM made the overlap with SSC activities less direct, sustainability, particularly as it relates to the ocean, remains aligned with the SSC’s values*. Finding ourselves embarrassingly undereducated on the goals, we decided to take a deeper look and to share our findings here.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all 193 member states of the UN in 2015. It had universal participation and produced 17 goals with 169 targets.
The SDGs built on the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight goals aimed primarily at reducing extreme poverty. While the MDGs were largely successful, they were narrow in scope and focused almost exclusively on developing countries. The SDGs were designed to apply to all countries, and to address a broader range of issues, including environmental sustainability and inequality.
| |
The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals | |
|
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
| |
|
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
| |
Colored boxes representing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were used by the Inspire Team to share the concepts with kids who visited during their Tech Tours (see below). | |
|
Columbia and Guatemala were early advocates of the process, proposing the idea of a new set of global goals. The United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa were also influential in steering discussions, with the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals, co-chaired by Hungary and Kenya, being instrumental in the drafting process. While the U.S. was supportive of the process, it did not take a prominent role in the early leadership or shaping of the goals, instead focusing on ensuring that the goals were realistic, aligned with U.S. interests, and respected national sovereignty.
Far more could be written about the UN Sustainable Development Goals than can fit in this short space but suffice it to say that it is good to see this level of collective action toward making the world a better place for all. For more information on the goals and the progress being made, we recommend the UN SDG website.
*Ocean Stewardship is one of the SSC’s Three Pillars. The other two are STEM/STEAM Education and Leadership.
| | | | |
We held four educational exhibitions with our partner organizations since our last newsletter, supporting Call of the Sea (COTS), the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (PYSF), and the Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC). These events that constitute our reason for being, as we inspire kids to play and discover the world in new ways. | |
Call of the Sea Summer Camp
On July 11 the Call of the Sea (COTS) Summer Camp combined COTS campers with campers from Spaulding Marine Center. Mild weather allowed us to split the event between indoors and outdoors, resulting in a fun and uncrowded event.
Our volunteer staff had time after setting up to do practice demos for each other, sharing what we had learned as docents. Shots of the dry runs appear below.
| |
Fred explains the Coriolis Effect | |  |
Lars demonstrates the Density Drop | | |
|
|
Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation Family Night
We held our second event this year with the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (PYSF). This event is part of the PYSF Family Night series. We interacted with sailing enthusiasts and explored science principles. We unveiled our latest updates to the Making Waves exhibit with great success! The July event was more modest than the June crowd and the wind was cold, but it was still a good evening with local families gathered to learn new sailing skills and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
| | | |
Treasure Island Sailing Center Summer Program
August 2 was our single engagement with the Treasure Island Sailing Center this year. It was a good day for it, so we did a Tent and Trailer setup. 32 kids came through the SSC over the course of the day, with The Grinder and the Making Waves exhibits having their typical popularity.
| |
Photos by Vasilia Martha Emmanouilides | |
|
Call of the Sea Summer Camp 3
We ended our summer camp season with a final trip to Call of the Sea in Sausalito. The setup was much as before, but with all the exhibits indoors. A total of 24 young sailors from Call of the Sea and Spaulding Marine Center engaged with eight interactive exhibits over the course of the day.
| |
Volunteer Appreciation Events | |
We held three volunteer events in July and August, creating great opportunities for SSC volunteers that people would be been hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The SSC is proud of what it can give back to its volunteers through these kinds of unique experiences. | |
SailGP Tech Tours & Races
The SSC's participation with SailGP involved supporting their organization, as well as special opportunities for SSC volunteers. During the week, from July 8 through 12, the SSC provided staff to help with the tours of the SailGP technical site. In the middle of that, we got an afternoon tour for SSC volunteers, and on the weekend of July 13 & 14, four SSC volunteers got passes to see the races. Wow! A behind-the-scenes view of a world-class, grand prix racing event!
| |
The SSC team and others viewing the SailGP Wing Sail Hangar | | |
|
SSC Volunteers in front of the Team USA boat
L to R: Jim Hancock, Dan Pruzan, Chris Fehring, Fred King, Elizabeth Henderson
Photo by Martin Smith
| | |
Besides the Colossal Coolness of spending a week in the SailGP Tech Center, this year's Season 4 Grand Final proved to be some of the most exciting racing ever, with a huge upset by Team Spain, who dethroned Team Australia after their 3-year reign on the SailGP circuit. Check out our video (2:09) for a dramatic recap of the week, including Chris Fehring's capture of Spain's winning finish. | |
August 7 was the volunteer tour of Saildrone, organized by Preston Thomas. Seven of us gathered for an exclusive tour of the Saildrone operation in Alameda. To say it was cool is an understatement. | |
|
Our team after the tour. L to R: Fred King, Preston Thomas, Nathan Houchin,
Chris Fehring, Dan Pruzan, Patrick Thomas
| | |
|
Saildrone is the world's premier builder of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), used for weather and oceanographic monitoring, fisheries oversight, and other surveillance. They are the quintessential example of the intersection of sailing and technology. We have engaged with Saildrone a few times now and think it is obvious that we should integrate USVs into the Sailing Science Center when the time is right.
Our thanks to Jenn Virskus and Matteson Daniel-Padgett, who were our tour guide and inside contact, respectively. Regrettably, photography is prohibited inside the Saildrone facility, so we are only able to share shots we took outside.
| |
Fred King and Chris Fehring look out at a 65-foot Surveyor Saildrone in the background with a 23-foot Explorer in the foreground. | | | | | |
|
Have you thought about volunteering?
We are always on the lookout for good crew!
| | | | |
Check out the latest developments with the SSC, our exhibits and staff, and the goings-on in our community, particularly for our partner and supporting organizations, and events on our home base of Treasure Island. | | |
|
No, we didn't move! They are renaming the streets on Treasure Island, so our mailing address has changed. Fun Fact: The Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) was able to persuade the Post Office to assign the street number 39, in honor of Treasure Island's 1939 International Exposition. That's kind of cool! | |
THOUSAND OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | |
We are thrilled to announce three confirmed events with Berkeley's Thousand Oaks Elementary School, to be held in conjunction with Pegasus Voyages. These fulfill an SSC 2024 strategic goal to begin working directly with school groups.
| |
WIND IN THEIR SAILS: DEATH AND RESURRECTION | |
We are pleased announce "Wind in their Sails: Death and Resurrection," by Emmy award-winning producer, Vincent Casalaina. This is a years-long effort to document the rise, fall, and resurrection of classic wooden boats, with, perhaps, a glimpse into the love, passion, and possible insanity that posses men to chase them and try to bring them back to life.
We are also pleased to report Vincent's position as the first contributor to the SSC's 2024 Fundraising Auction, with a donation of a half-day of his time doing videography. Thank you, Vincent!
| | | | |
SEPTEMBER 14 - TINKERS & THINKERS INNOVATION FAIRE | | |
|
The Sailing Science Center is pleased to support the Pleasant Hill Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire for the second consecutive year, with exhibits and volunteers. The event is free and open to the public! Come say Hi! | |
SEPTEMBER 21 - CLIPPER COVE BEACH CLEANUP | |
The Sailing Science Center is pleased to support One Treasure Island's Clipper Cove Beach Cleanup on September 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Originated by the SSC in 2019, and now being organized by One Treasure Island, this is our fifth year joining this community service day in support of the larger California Coastal Cleanup Day. Contact us (info@sailingscience.org) if you want to participate, or just show up at the Treasure Island Sailing Center on September 21. | |
|
SEPTEMBER 27 - 29 - 32nd WOMEN'S SAILING SEMINAR
| | |
|
The Sailing Science Center is pleased to support the Island Yacht Club's Women's Sailing Seminar for our third consecutive year. Sign up now, if you haven't already done so. | |
Be part of the team. Join us in making these events possible! | | | | |
|
Here is the SSC schedule through September. See our online calendar for the latest information.
September 4 - Latitude 38 Crew Party*
September 14 - Pleasant Hill Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire*
September 21 - Clipper Cove Cleanup*
September 27-29 - Women's Sailing Seminar*
* Event is open to the public
| |
These are things YOU can do to make a difference and Move the Needle
| |
That's all for this month.
Cheers!
Jim Hancock
President and Founder
| |
The San Francisco Sailing Science Center is a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3), Tax ID 82-3631165. Your donation to the Sailing Science Center is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. | |
The Sailing Science Center News is published monthly. It is sent to team members, partners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the San Francisco Sailing Science Center. You are receiving this because you are considered to be in one of these groups. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please click the Unsubscribe link below. We do not sell, share or otherwise give out our mailing list beyond our organization. | | | | |
