The program will highlight the ecology and geology of the 1.5 mile sandy peninsula by following along as faculty and students conduct studies of dune grass, bird migration, horseshoe crab breeding, dune erosion, water quality and other topics. Among those who are featured are URI Professors Keith Killingbeck, Peter Paton and Peter August, as well as Coastal Institute Assistant Director Nicole Rohr, Rhode Island Natural History Survey botanist Hope Leeson, alumni Brian Oakley and Pamela Loring, and many others.
“Napatree Point is arguably the most pristine barrier beach in Rhode Island, perhaps in all of southern New England,” said August in the opening of the program.
“Napatree is such a special place for many reasons, not the least of which is that we use it as a laboratory for students,” added Killingbeck. “And from a plant perspective it’s an amazing place because it’s such a harsh environment.”
The 30-minute program is part of a quarterly television series that explores the work being done by URI faculty and alumni and how it contributes to a better understanding of the world around us. Previous programs have examined such topics as premature babies, Dengue fever, climate change and sharks.
After the program’s initial broadcast on Feb. 25, the program will be repeated Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1:30 a.m. on RI PBS and on March 1 at 9 p.m., March 2 at 4 a.m., March 3 at 1 a.m., March 5 at 2 p.m. and March 6 at 6 p.m. on the RI PBS Learn Channel.
The series is co-produced by the New Media unit of URI’s Department of Marketing and Communications and Ocean State Video.