Dan Rather Interviews Oceanographic Center Dean on the fate of Coral Reefs

Dan Rather interviews Richard Dodge, Ph.D., Dean of Oceanographic Center.

(L to R) Ph.D. candidate Abby Renegar, Dan Rather, researcher Dr. Alison Moulding and Dr. Dodge.

Dan Rather visited the NSU Oceanographic Center (OC) in late March to gather material for his television news show Dan Rather Reports on the cable/DirectTV channel HDNET.  The show features field reports that include politics, international affairs, and the environment.  The NSU OC segment aired on Tuesday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. 

In researching for a story on the fate of coral reefs, Rather and his staff learned of the coral reef research being done by scientists of the NSU National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) and of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (coming to Fort Lauderdale in 2008) that NCRI is helping organize. 

Rather extensively interviewed OC Dean Richard Dodge, Ph.D. who is also Executive Director of the National Coral Reef Institute.

During his visit, Rather was informed of one of the NSU NCRI coral reproduction/restoration projects taking place. He was shown maps of the coastline and how close the reefs are to Port Everglades.  Dr. Dodge explained that due to the poor placement of the anchorage sites, ships have drifted into the reefs causing groundings that destroy the coral.