GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Don your beachwear and join the Florida Museum of Natural History for a “surf’s up fun for all ages” celebration of its newest temporary exhibits, “Surfing Florida: A Photographic History” and “Surf Science: Waves and Wildlife,” Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The free family-friendly event celebrates the significance of Florida’s coastal waters and its role in the ecosystem. Learn about beach and sea animals while discovering the biology of bioluminescence through an interactive display. Guests can test their surfing skills on “Robo-surfer,” an inflatable mechanical surfing simulator operated and sponsored by Pollo Tropical.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view SubjuGator and PropaGator, University of Florida autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, respectively, and speak with representatives from groups including the Save the Manatee Club, Cocoa Beach Surf Museum and Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research. Other participating museum and UF groups include the UF Surf Team and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Surfing Florida: A Photographic History” explores the sport’s rich cultural history in the state, while “Surf Science: Waves and Wildlife” mixes museum specimens with interactive stations to provide interesting details about animals that live at the beach, some of which also surf.

The museum will display the exhibits through Jan. 20, 2014. Admission is $4 for adults ($3.50 Fla. residents and seniors); $3 for ages 3-17 and free to UF students with a valid Gator 1 card and museum members.

“Surfing Florida: A Photographic History” was organized by the University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, with support from the Florida Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, visit http://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits.

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Writer: Kaitlin Gardiner, kgardiner@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Catherine Carey, ccarey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media Contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu, 352-273-2054