UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute

The great Floridan aquifer is an exhaustible renewable resource, meaning that with proper support, it can last us a long time. Swipe to find out why you should protect our most valuable freshwater resource, and how to get started. Visit the link in our bio for a more accessible version of this post.

Information from Saint John’s River Water Management District, National Geographic, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Images via Canva Pro.

Click here for more information and an accessible version of this post: https://loom.ly/NYTFLVM

🌎 Make an impact with TESI this summer or fall! We’re hiring one student team member each semester.

🌿 Environmental Leaders Intern: STEPS - Summer 2026: In association with the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) program, the Intern with create an ArcGIS StoryMap on STEPS research and innovations. The Intern will interview STEPS scientists to develop a narrative story for the general public. This is a truly hands-on experience!

🎥 Environmental Leaders Intern: Sense of Place - Fall 2026: The intern will serve as a critical arm of the TESI Digital Outreach team, creating video content and tabling at outreach events to connect Floridians with the natural world.

Click here for the summer position, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/earth-systems/blog/apply-for-tesi-environmental-leaders-intern-steps/

Click here for the fall position, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/earth-systems/blog/apply-for-the-tesi-environmental-leaders-internship-sense-of-place/

Ready to join us? Apply now and be part of a team making a difference for Florida’s future.

Endangered Species Day, observed on the third Friday in May, was established in 2006 by the U.S. Senate and the Endangered Species Coalition to raise awareness of threatened wildlife and the lifesaving impact of the Endangered Species Act. Endangered species refers to animals, plants, and other organisms that are at serious risk of extinction across all or part of their natural range. As of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s 2025 report, Florida is home to 50 federally designated endangered species as well as over 80 other species that have been designated as threatened or as a species of special concern.

Endangered species refers to animals, plants, and other organisms that are at serious risk of extinction across all or part of their natural range.

Check out these posts from our Instagram account instagram.com/KnowYourFlorida, designed to help Floridians get to know our state's natural history and outdoor wonders, to learn about 5 endangered species that call Florida home and click here to learn more: https://loom.ly/WsS5780

🌎 Make an impact with TESI this summer or fall! We’re hiring one student team member each semester.

🌿 Environmental Leaders Intern: STEPS - Summer 2026: In association with the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) program, the Intern with create an ArcGIS StoryMap on STEPS research and innovations. The Intern will interview STEPS scientists to develop a narrative story for the general public. This is a truly hands-on experience!

🎥 Environmental Leaders Intern: Sense of Place - Fall 2026: The intern will serve as a critical arm of the TESI Digital Outreach team, creating video content and tabling at outreach events to connect Floridians with the natural world.

Click here for the summer position, https://loom.ly/tEMFePU and here for the fall position, https://loom.ly/MNUV__A.

Ready to join us? Apply now and be part of a team making a difference for Florida’s future.

Bees all over the world are threatened by habitat loss, natural hazards, and the use of pesticides. Florida is home to over 300 bee species and is a hub for apiculture, or beekeeping. However, after the 2025-2026 extreme cold and spring drought, Florida’s bees and beekeepers are struggling. To learn more visit https://loom.ly/gduFpWA

Information from the New York Times, UF IFAS, Florida Museum, WUSF News, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Department of Agriculture, WPEC News, and WCJB News.

Former TESI Environmental Leaders Fellow and a founding student of the TESI Environmental Leaders Network, Kamya Bates, is featured in The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research news. https://loom.ly/FXITdsE

ALT: Kamya Bates sits at a lab table with a tray of eelgrass.

Kamya Bates studies eelgrass | UNC-Chapel Hill A childhood spent at a Texas beach and watching “Free Willy” led her to become a marine biologist.

Join the City of Gainesville, FL - Government for the annual Earth Day Celebration! The event will feature a Tree Giveaway, Earth Day Awards, a Mayoral Proclamation, a children's art contest, and opportunities to connect with the community on sustainability and climate action.

For more information check out https://loom.ly/lsz-yJA

📅 Wednesday, April 22
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 MLK Multipurpose Center, 1028 NE 14th St, Gainesville, FL
🌍 Family-friendly event with local orgs, hands-on activities, and more!

One of the rarest marine mammals in the world can be found right in the Florida Gulf. The Rice’s whale was confirmed as a unique species in 2021, with a population of only about 51, making it one of the most endangered whales on the planet. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill alone is estimated to have reduced their population by up to 22%. Rice’s whales are identifiable from other baleen whales by three ridges in front of their blowhole. Human activities like vessel collisions put them at risk, as whales tend to rest near the surface at night.

Did you know this whale existed before today?

Swipe to learn more and check out https://loom.ly/M7Bxvao for a more accessible version of this post with clickable links!

Information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , UF IFAS, the Smithsonian, National Archives, and the Marine Mammal Commission. Images from NOAA.

Tell Me About: Rice's Whale What is it? In 2019, an unidentifiable whale was found beached in the Everglades and genetically analyzed. Originally identified as a subspecies of Bryde’s whales, research revealed the whale as its own species in 2021, named after Dale W. Rice, the first scientist to publish evidence of them in

When brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or washing clothes, have you ever thought about where your water comes from, or where it goes once you’ve used it? In Florida, natural and manmade systems both direct the flow of water, and understanding the cycle of water use reveals broader human impacts on local ecosystems and the long-term quality and availability of water. Swipe through to learn more about how the water cycle across the state functions, and how to map your own water use.

Info from USGS, UF/IFAS, Florida DEP, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Images from Canva Pro, courtesy of Chris the Island, giselavankreij, Lisa Gilmore, IcemanJ, Bl4ke, Gizem Gokce, Sophie Shoults, and NoAhZeRaFa.

Calling all teachers! Applications are now open for a new 2026 Summer SEFS Professional Development Workshop!

Join scientists for an exciting hands-on experience where you’ll explore climate disasters and AI and create lessons for your students. Workshops are available for high school teachers. Applications are due by April 15, 2026.

Apply now: https://loom.ly/m02wdeE