Documentary and Discussion on Vanishing Coral Reefs, Feb. 13

“Chasing Coral,” the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary on the world’s vanishing coral reefs, will be screened at the East Brunswick Public Library at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13, followed by a discussion with Rutgers marine scientist Liti Haramaty. The program is free and open to the public.

The film follows a team of divers, photographers and scientists on an ocean journey to discover why coral reefs are disappearing. According to the producers, “the film took more than three years to shoot and is the result of 500+ hours of underwater footage, coral bleaching submissions from volunteers in 30 countries, as well as support from more than 500 people in various locations around the world.”

Haramaty, a resident of East Brunswick, studies the effects of global climate change on coral physiology at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She also serves as secretary of the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission.

The program is part of the Option Green lecture series is offered by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission in partnership with the East Brunswick Public Library. The series recently won a 2017 Environmental Achievement Award from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. All programs are free and open to the public.

The Friends of EBEC is a nonprofit, all-volunteer citizens group dedicated to local environmental education and conservation. In addition to its Option Green speakers series the Friends sponsors National Moth Week, Freecycling Days, Amphibian Protection, Community Garden, Butterfly Park, Moth Nights and events that help to educate the public about the environment and sustainable practices. Membership is free. For more information, go to friendsebec.com.

The library is located at 2 Jean Walling Civic Center.