FORT PIERCE, Fla.—On Saturday, December 7- visit an aquaculture lab to glimpse at sparkling fish. Meet scientists in their research laboratories–watch your kids conduct a water quality test or embark of a scavenger hunt.
A special event for our community
Add the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center Open House to your calendar and enjoy an exciting day solo or with your friends and family, December 7, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., in Fort Pierce, Florida. The open house showcases two attractions: the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), 2199 South Rock Road; and the UF/IFAS Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, at 5800 Picos Road, each within a mile loop on Rock and Picos roads. Attendees may park and ride in an American with Disabilities Act-certified shuttle between the two locations, which will operate for the duration of the event, and a half hour after the event closes. Attendees will park their personal vehicles and ride to the two separate locations.
Meet the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center Director, Dr. Mark Kistler
“Join us at the UF/IFAS IRREC Open House Treasure on Saturday, December 7,” said Mark Kistler, who recently joined IRREC as director. “I look forward to meeting the community we serve with research, extension and education for our local agricultural and natural resource community.” Kistler was raised in Florida and is dedicated to a lifelong commitment of leadership in agricultural production and natural resources.
Thank you to our event sponsors
The event is sponsored by Waters Agricultural Laboratory, in Georgia, providing excellent scientific analyses for laboratory samples; Gary Roberts Landscaping, providing experienced precision landscaping for local businesses and residents, and Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery, a working vineyard and winery; and Thermo Fisher Scientific, offering world-class scientific equipment to professional research institutions; Orchid Island Juice Company, providing fresh fruit juice, unsurpassed in flavor and nutritional value; and MZ Perkys Old Brew Coffee, producing rich, delicious coffee.
Featured tours to an aquaculture facility, laboratories and greenhouses
Kistler will lead indoor tours at IRREC, presenting overviews of each research topic and introducing participants to the researchers in their laboratories. Kistler said presentations will include laboratory greenhouse visits and interactions with research teams who work with water resources, crop production and new disease-tolerant citrus varieties, biological
control for crop pests and invasive species. Participants will visit the IRREC Aquaculture Facility to learn from Cortney Ohs and his team of researchers about the steps involved in aquaculture production of marine food and ornamental fishes. Trolley tours to IRREC research fields will afford attendees an opportunity to view active research experiments. Other focus areas that attendees may visit include:
• Smart irrigation and hydrology
• Citrus horticulture
• Plant pathology and transcriptomics
• Soil and water science
• Entomopathogenic fungi that protects crops
• Postharvest technology
The University of Florida is a land-grant institution. As part of that designation, the university fulfills its commitment to provide research, Extension, and education statewide. At IRREC, faculty members conduct research and translate their findings to improve local agricultural production for growers and natural resources for the community. The findings and advancements are presented to stakeholders by extension faculty in collaboration with research faculty. The IRREC faculty members teach graduate courses online and provide in-person training and mentoring of interns, graduate and undergraduate students, along with visiting scientists. For more information about the UF/IFAS IRREC, visit the IRREC website at irrec.ifas.ufl.edu.
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