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Over 30 freezers recovered from Marine Science Lab fire
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A lightning strike in early May led to a fire in the Marine Science Laboratory on the USF St. Petersburg campus.
The recovery process of the building and years worth of research has begun.
Thomas Smith, the Interim Regional Chancellor and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at USF St. Petersburg, speaks on how the discovery of over 30 chest freezers may be a hopeful sign.
“We pulled out of the building about 37 chest freezers, and it looks like some of the material that was retrieved is still viable for research…. could be specimens and samples going back decades. There were some Antarctic core samples that were in freezers.”
The fire displaced 150 individuals including students, faculty and staff. The university is still searching for laboratory space and equipment for them. They are working on matching offers from the community with their current needs.
The neighboring community has continued to show support through a fundraiser that raised over $400,000. Alongside them, the USF Foundation has launched the Marine Science Operating Fund.
“Thats a fund that will support the overall operations of the college of marine science, but it’s really going to be focused on the immediate sort of emergency that we’re all facing in the wake of that tragic fire.”
This initiative will provide financial relief for the university, and the affected members.
Smith states that the university has started the long process of deciding what the next steps are for the building. The debate stands on whether or not to rebuild.
Image of the Marine Science Laboratory by Megan Fair from WMNF News.
The post Over 30 freezers recovered from Marine Science Lab fire appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.
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By Listen:
A lightning strike in early May led to a fire in the Marine Science Laboratory on the USF St. Petersburg campus.
The recovery process of the building and years worth of research has begun.
Thomas Smith, the Interim Regional Chancellor and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at USF St. Petersburg, speaks on how the discovery of over 30 chest freezers may be a hopeful sign.
“We pulled out of the building about 37 chest freezers, and it looks like some of the material that was retrieved is still viable for research…. could be specimens and samples going back decades. There were some Antarctic core samples that were in freezers.”
The fire displaced 150 individuals including students, faculty and staff. The university is still searching for laboratory space and equipment for them. They are working on matching offers from the community with their current needs.
The neighboring community has continued to show support through a fundraiser that raised over $400,000. Alongside them, the USF Foundation has launched the Marine Science Operating Fund.
“Thats a fund that will support the overall operations of the college of marine science, but it’s really going to be focused on the immediate sort of emergency that we’re all facing in the wake of that tragic fire.”
This initiative will provide financial relief for the university, and the affected members.
Smith states that the university has started the long process of deciding what the next steps are for the building. The debate stands on whether or not to rebuild.
Image of the Marine Science Laboratory by Megan Fair from WMNF News.
The post Over 30 freezers recovered from Marine Science Lab fire appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.