Tim Mousseau & Ken Buessler

Within months of the Fukushima disaster, marine radiochemist Ken Buesseler assembled an international research cruise to sample the waters surrounding the nuclear plant. He continues to monitor 20 West Coast sites, including Tomales Bay. Research biologist Tim Mousseau studies the impact of radioactive contamination on biological communities. They’ll be in conversation with Mary Beth Brangan, co-director of the Ecological Options Network. Co-sponsored by Point Reyes Books, KWMR Post Carbon Radio, Ecological Options Network, and Fukushima Response.

If you’d like to meet the scientists in a more intimate setting, there will be a pre-event dinner/fundraiser for the research work of Dr. Buesseler and Dr. Mousseau at 5 pm at the home of Bing Gong & Eleanore Despina. RSVP to binggong@sonic.net or by phone to 415-663-1380. Suggested donation $50. 

About Tim Mousseau: A research biologist and professor at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, Mousseau has studied the impacts of radioactive contaminants on biological communities in the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. His research suggests that many species of birds, plants and animals have experienced direct toxicity as a result of the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters. This mutational load has had dramatic consequences for development, reproduction and survival, and the effects observed at individual and population levels are having significant impacts on these regions.

About Ken Buesseler:  Ken Buesseler  is an ocean radiation scientist with the Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivity. He monitoring has shown that important fisheries off Fukushima remain closed due to levels of cesium that are abaove Japanese limits for seafood. Currently he is monitoring more than 20 sites along the West Coast, from Alaska to Mexico with citizen-scientist funding and participation.