Brevard Zoo’s Turtle Tech Project &
Northrop Grumman Present:

Virtual Take Our Daughters &
Sons to Work Day!

Welcome families to our Virtual TODAS on April 24, 2020.

Learn more about our Sea Turtle Healing Center and meet some of the patients we may meet on our virtual tour.  The Sea Turtle Healing Center is live every Wednesday at 1:30 on Facebook!

Looking for more family fun?
Click HERE for a At Home Science flyer and have family fun with a science challenge or a turtle engineering project.  Visit our sidebar to visit our Family and Kids Program pages.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

This is a challenging time for everyone as we adjust to life with COVID-19 among us. Rest assured, we will continue to connect you with nature, just in new ways. And to do this, we need your support.

MEET SOME OF OUR RECENT GUEST

LEARNING IS FUN!

Learn more about sea turtle conservation and local organizations!
Sea Turtle Preservation Society
Barrier Island Center
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

THE TURTLE TECH PROJECT

Florida is home to 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles found worldwide. Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and Hawksbill turtles can all be found in the waters around Florida and females come onto the land during nesting season to lay their nests. Because the beaches of Brevard County are among the world’s most important nesting areas for sea turtles and the largest in the United States, a significant number of animals are found with injuries and illnesses each year. In April of 2014, Brevard Zoo opened the Sea Turtle Healing Center to treat, rehabilitate and release sick and injured patients.  Sea turtles are a defining part of our community, and the Sea Turtle Healing Center is integral to the rescue of these animals!

In 2018 the Zoo received a generous grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation to spearhead an initiative focused on the scientific advancement of sea turtles. Through the Brevard Zoo’s Turtle Tech Project initiative we are working with local engineers, Florida universities, Brevard County Public Schools and other organizations to develop and advance technology that will allow for a better understanding of this species here in Florida and around the world.

The Turtle Tech Project consists of several components, each with an engineering team. One of our current projects involves developing a tracking sensor that has enhanced capability at a lower cost than what is currently available to be used to understand the long term behaviors of sea turtles. This project also includes an offshore surveillance system to monitor and refresh the tracking devices and a processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) component to collect and interpret data. A second proposed project is the development of an automated sea turtle image recognition system using manned and unmanned flights combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify individual sea turtles and determine their behavior. This is especially important for studying adult male sea turtles.

In addition to these projects, zoo educators and Northrop Grumman engineers work with two area high schools and several local universities on a STEM component focusing on integrating engineering, science, and marine science curriculum.

STUDENT & STEM SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS

Turtle Tech Project Science Fair Results

2020 Science Fair 

CASPIAN
1st Place in Category
Best of Show SR Physical Sciences
US Metric Award – Certificate
Invitation to Lockheed Martin Science Challenge

SEBASTIAN
4th Place in Category
FIT Scholarship – $72,000

DYLAN
3rd Place in Category
Naval Science Award – Medal & $25.00

GURAASHISH 
Rising Scientist Award – $20.00

HUNTER
Certificate from the League of Women Votes
Genius Olympiad Invitation

JOZEF
4th Place in Category

JACOB
3rd Place in Category

2019 Science Fair Winners

Zach
1ST Place in Category
Best in Show for Physical Projects
Attended State Science Fair and ISEF (International Science Fair in Phoenix, AZ)

Angelia
1st Place in Category
Best of Show State Science Fair
Attended ISEF (International Science Fair in Phoenix, AZ)

Michael
4th Place in Category

Shawn
4th Place in Category

John
3rd Place in Category

Garrett
3rd Place in Category

International Science Fair

Both Zach and Angelia attended

Media

August 2018 News Release