On Friday, November 3, the University of the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) will celebrate its 40th anniversary on the VIERS campus in Lameshur Bay, St, John.

The celebration will be marked by a luncheon, dedication of the recently renovated waterside tropical research laboratory and the establishment of the Tektite Underwater Habitat Museum. The luncheon's guest speakers include UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster, Clean Islands International President Allan Hunt and Project Tektite aquanaut and former Virgin Islands National Park Ranger Gary E. Davis.

The celebration will also feature a photo exhibit of VIERS' past 40 years, as well as photos and artifacts of Project Tektite I and II. Dr. Harold Ross, who served as support staff for Project Tektite II, will be present to discuss the Tektite Society, a San Francisco non-profit that acquired the habitat for a proposed Tektite III.

"It is always special to be able to take a look back while moving forward," said Randy Brown, executive director of Clean Islands International and VIERS administrator. "The renovation of the lab, which is such a great accomplishment, is just one milestone of VIERS' long history. A lot of people are not aware of the integral role that VIERS staff performed during Project Tektite I and II. By establishing the Tektite Underwater Habitat Museum, we have the opportunity to assemble an accurate depiction of the activities that have occurred in Lameshur Bay."

Established in 1966, the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) is a unique learning center located within the Virgin Islands National Park at Lameshur Bay, St. John. VIERS has a long history of hosting researchers to conduct terrestrial, coastal ecology and marine scientific studies, as well as providing environmental education opportunities for Virgin Islands youth, stateside high school and university students.

VIERS has been operated by Clean Islands International, a non-profit environmental education organization, since 1997.

Project Tektite was a research project conducted in 1969 and 1970 in Great Lameshur Bay. The Department of the Navy, NASA, General Electric, Department of the Interior, University of the Virgin Islands and others initially operated the submerged habitat to determine the physiological, biomedical and behavioral effects of extended stays underwater. The project was geared initially towards understanding the effects of future planned space flight on astronauts. In the second program, the focus of the underwater habitat project was as a research base for a large number of marine research projects, specifically understanding the ecology of coral reefs and their inhabitants. Such noted scientists as Sylvia Earle, Bruce Colette and others published many significant research results from these missions.

The event is open to the public at no charge, however space is limited and reservations are required. Guests are encouraged to bring photos and other VIERS or Project Tektite artifacts. For more information about VIERS' 40th anniversary events, please contact Viers Administrator Randy Brown at 340-776-6721.