Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History ~ May 11, 2020
ANOTHER WAY ATHENS, GA IMPACTS THE WORLD
GMNH Pop Quiz: What is this object and how is it associated with Athens?
The object in the picture above is known as a “Reef Ball,” which is a designed artificial reef structure used to restore ailing coral reefs and marine habitats. The pH balanced concrete structures are made with an easy to use portable fiberglass mold system. The concrete used to make Reef Balls contains micro silica, creating a high strength and abrasion resistant concrete. They are also treated to create a rough surface texture in order to promote settling by marine organisms such as corals, algae, coralline algae, and sponges. On average, each of these Reef Balls produces about 180 kilograms of bio-mass (animal or plant life) each year and Reef Balls have a life expectancy of at least 500 years.
The international offices of the organization that created the Reef Ball and deploys them throughout the world happens to be located in Athens, GA. The Reef Ball Foundation is a non-profit entity with a mission to rehabilitate and protect the world's ocean ecosystems through the development and use of ecologically sound designed reefs and related ecosystems. They emphasize on-going research, public education, community involvement, and reefs that promote and support natural species diversity and population density.
Why is an organization focused on helping restore our oceans located in landlocked Athens, GA?
The Reef Ball Foundation office happens to be located in Athens due to a friendship that started in a physical education class. Founders Kathy Kirbo and Todd Barber first met in a UGA Scuba Diving class. Kathy re-connected with Todd after graduation to establish the Reef Ball as a non-profit organization in 1997. Kathy is the Founding Executive Director of Reef Ball and Todd is the Founding Chair. Todd lives in Sarasota, Florida where he works out of the Reef Ball Production Facility.
Together with their staff and volunteers they work to restore and preserve oceanic habitats and provide educational projects for with over 6,000 projects in over 70 countries and have deployed over 1/2 million Reef Balls. Over 9 billion kilograms of biomass will be added to the world’s oceans over the next five centuries as a result of these efforts. The Reef Ball Foundation has a network of contractors, partners, and associated companies around the world, such as Reef Ball Mexico, Reef Ball Italy, Reef Arabia, etc.
Reef Ball colonized by coral
The Reef Ball Foundation's work includes designed reefs, ground breaking coral propagation and planting systems, estuary restoration, red mangrove plantings, oyster reef restoration, erosion control (often beach erosion), and expert collaboration on a variety of oceanic issues and educational projects in schools and our latest technology living shorelines and living seawalls. They even have projects for restoring bird habitats.
They work with governments, other NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy, The Audubon Society, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Girl Scouts, schools, research institutes, businesses, private individuals, and community organizations. The Reef Ball Foundation has a strong emphasis on education about preserving and protecting our natural reefs. Projects range from a near shore reef restoration project in Montserrat to an oyster restoration project in Mobile Bay, Alabama as part of oil spill restoration projects to youth educational projects in the Caribbean and Maryland to a sea turtle restoration project in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Turks and Caicos - Volunteers helping make a Reef Ball onsite using mold
Though the Reef Ball Foundation initially concentrated on coral reef restoration they have continually expanded their technology to include different restoration applications for various ocean ecosystems that are all important components of the coral reef system and tied to the overall health of the ocean. From pioneering coral transplant work in the 90’s to Dr. Lee Harris early research using Reef Ball’s for erosion control to living shorelines and sea walls. Most Reef Ball projects have monitoring plan associated with researcher institutes, government agencies, corporations, schools, local community groups, and citizen science which is important in raising awareness.
The Reef Ball Foundation has won numerous national and international awards for their work. Their most recent award is as a finalist for the 2020 Katerva Awards in the environmental category. For more information about the Reef Ball Foundation go to www.reefballfoundation.org.
The Reef Ball Foundation also has another Athens connection. They have worked closely with Dr. Jim Porter, a noted Marine Biologist and Professor Emeritus in Ecology at UGA. Dr. Porter is also on the Board of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History and is responsible for contributing many of the marine specimens in the Museum’s collection including a large number of corals.
Reef Ball director Kathy Kirbo with Dr. Jim Porter
About the Reef Ball Foundation Director
Kathy Kirbo is a UGA alumna and an active member of the Athens music scene. She has composed and performed songs for movies as well as touring. Some of bands she has performed with are Greenhouse, Jackpot City, The Spinoffs, and The Interstellar Boys. She has worked with producers Mike Mills of REM, Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, Ben Mize of Counting Crows, and Jeff Walls of Guadalcanal Diary.
A certified diver from the age of 12 she developed an early love for the ocean. Seeing the ocean's degradation from childhood to college inspired her work in conservation. Kathy is also executive producer and, with film's director, Dan Aquar, co-writer of an award winning film on the plastic pollution issue. "Down To the Plastic Ocean,” a VR 360 short documentary film, was an official showing in over 20 film festivals around the world and won several awards across multiple categories. She also composed and performed the film's music.
Kathy currently serves on the Cobbham Historic Trust, and has served on the Athens Area Community Foundation, Community Connection of Northeast Georgia/Family Connection, Northeast Georgia Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force, Athens Area Homeless Shelter Volunteer and Fundraising Event Chair, and as a Jeanette Ranking Foundation Grant Reader.
Please visit out our web site (http://www.gmnhfriends.org) for a list of Friends activities, officers and Board Members.
-- John Wares, President
Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History.
Comments or suggestions, or just want to chat, I’m jpwares@uga.edu.
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