2025 St. Pete Science Festival
Steve Murawski (TBS, PI) supervises gyotaku with the artists (and future scientists) of St. Pete
Tampa Bay Surveillance had a blast at the 2025 St. Pete Science Festival (February 8) – an annual event attracting upwards of 10,000 people to the USF St. Pete waterfront campus each year. Adults and kids alike visit exhibits at the fun, FREE, and family-friendly event, hosted by dozens of institutions from local and federal government services (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Pete Police Department, USGS, NOAA, NASA) to museums (The Dalí, Imagine Museum, Museum of Science and Industry) and academic institutions (USF College of Marine Science, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College). From the moment the event opened at 10am until its 4pm close, the TBS crew were busy teaching the masses the traditional Japanese fish printing technique of gyotaku.
Using a modified and modernized approach with vibrant acrylic paints and sturdy sketch paper, participants got a feel for the traditional art form by painting real fish – bycatch from sample collection earlier in the week – alongside detailed fish replicas. Participants unleashed their inner artists, applying paint to the fish and carefully transferring the unique impressions onto paper. No two fish prints looked alike!
The 'tail end' of a brightly reimagined Ladyfish (Elops saurus)
A rainbow interpretation of a TBS target species, Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
Blue and purple for Savanna's Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides)
We guided countless eager hands, introducing them to an array of local fish species, including Sheepshead (Archosagus probatocephalus), Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), Sand Perch (Diplectrum formosum), and Ladyfish (Elops saurus)- all found in the waters of Tampa Bay. Rubber replicas of Flounder, Angel Fish, and Bass offered additional opportunities for artistic exploration and discussions about each species’ unique characteristics and adaptations. Our booth quickly became popular and was transformed into an outdoor art gallery as we hung each piece to dry. Families continued to stroll the event, enjoying the many other STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) exhibits and demonstrations before returning to collect their colorful keepsakes.
Dozens of gyotaku-style fish prints hang to dry under our USF College of Marine Science exhibitor tent at the 2025 St. Petersburg Science Festival
The TBS crew was honored to share in a messy, smelly, and most of all, FUN-filled day of science with our wonderful neighbors of St. Pete. We thank the incredible organizers of the event, the sponsors and fellow exhibitors, and of course the enthusiastic participants. Thank you to the USF College of Marine Science Advisory Committee for letting us take over such a large piece of tent real estate! We’re already looking forward to next year.
STEAM in-action! St. Pete Science Fest attendees expressing their creative sides at the TBS-hosted gyotaku fish-printing demonstration
Check out USF’s coverage of Science Fest 2025 (TBS featured at 0:55 seconds)
