Exploration of a 385-million-year-old tropical reef off the northeast coast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula is just one topic that John Zawiskie's, Cranbrook Institute of Science geologist, will cover in Submarine Science in Lake Huron: From Prehistoric Tropical Reefs to the Ice Age, on Saturday, Nov. 3,1 p.m. at the Macomb Cultural Center. This free presentation is part of the Great Lakes, Great Stories: Michigan's Maritime Heritage, a two-month series of programs exploring the history, romance and legacy of the Great Lakes.

Zawiskie reviews the underwater and land-based research conducted with the Naval Sea Cadets Corps and the Noble Odyssey Foundation, which includes the recent exploration of a tropical reef in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. An exhibit of related fossils and rocks also will be on display.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 448 square miles of northwest Lake Huron adjacent to Alpena, Mich. It is one of 13 marine sanctuaries in a system established to protect a nationally significant collection of more than 100 shipwrecks, spanning over a century of Great Lakes shipping history.

To register for presentations or for more information on cultural center programs, call 586.445.7348 or visit www.macombculturalcenter.com.

The Macomb Cultural Center explores the influences and experiences that shape the community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. The cultural center is located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield roads in Clinton Township, adjacent to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts.

Media Contact: Tish Wirth

Phone: 586.445.7560

Email: wirthp@macomb.edu