CLARKSVILLE, TN − Join the Austin Peay State University (APSU) College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for the next Science on Tap, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Strawberry Alley Ale Works.
Dr. Madeline Giefer, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Catherine Haase, a professor in the Department of Biology, will present “Sharing the Shore: Galápagos Sea Lions Amid Human Encroachment,” highlighting the work the duo has embarked upon in the Galápagos Islands studying sea lion habitats.
Attendees will learn how these Arctic-adapted creatures manage life in the equatorial sun, including unique behaviors like coating themselves in sand for temperature regulation. Giefer and Haase’s research particularly focuses on how the increasing human presence in the Galápagos—which is home to 35,000 residents and 250,000 annual tourists—affects sea lion social structures and communication patterns. The duo will share how their research works to understand and protect these remarkable animals as they navigate the challenges of sharing their habitat with a growing human population.