This past weekend St. Petersburg hosted the Tall Ship Festival at Bayboro Harbor (in the Innovation District). I was fascinated to see these historic vessels side-by-side with the R/V Weatherbird II. Each vessel has contributed to the maritime industry in an unique way. From transporting the earliest explorers, speeding privateers through blockades, and supporting researchers as they tackle critical issues such as the impact of the Deep Water Horizon incident. Their individual stories are remarkable. Built hundreds of years apart, they were designed for a purpose that was adapted as new situations arose. They are great examples of innovation in action.
In case you aren't familiar with the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II, its worth a moment. The Weatherbird is part of the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) and homeported in St. Petersburg at the University of South Florida. Her mission is to provide a sea-going platform for oceanographic and marine science education and research at sea. During the Tall Ship Festival, students and the general public, got a rare "insider" view of the Weatherbird to learned about its work. The Weatherbird and her sister ship - R/V Hogarth - are tremendous assets for the State of Florida and we are luckily to be their home.
To learn more about the Tall Ships that visited St. Pete click here.
(This article was first featured in our March newsletter - to subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here)
We are seeking entrepreneurs for an upcoming ocean enterprise accelerator. Hosted by our partner, Braid Theory, this 12-week program will focus on three aspects of commercialization: building capability, capacity and intellectual capital.
2025 marked the 11th year for the St. Petersburg Science Festival and the 30th year for Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's MarineQuest. It was a fantastic opportunity for 1200+ 4th and 5th graders on School Days and 9K+ community members on the Public Day to participate in hands-on activities exploring all facets of STEAM. Kudos to the sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and Steering Committee for another successful year.
The St Pete Science Festival is looking for volunteers and exhibitors to participate in the February 7 School Day and February 8 Public Festival. This regional celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) is a fun event for all ages.