About the Mural

St. Petersburg multimedia artist Chris Roberts, known as Brain Storm, will create a mural focused on diversity and inclusion in STEAM professions. This mural is sponsored by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

Brain Storm is an accomplished painter, designer, cinematographer, tattoo artist and owner of Urban Ink Tattoo Company.

For this community Bright Spot project, Brain Storm is partnering with the St. Pete Youth Farm, a group who create a space for young people to grow food and to grow as leaders, entrepreneurs and as individuals while giving back to the community.

NOAA Fisheries is honored to sponsor the Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) mural for the 2020 St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Shine Mural Festival and the PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls Program. We very much appreciate local artist Brain Storm whose incredible design exceeded our vision, and The Youth Farm students who will help paint the mural. We’re also excited to partner with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital on the location for the mural; we could not think of a better place to help inspire kids.

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional office is located in the heart of St. Petersburg’s Innovation District on Bayboro Harbor. The Innovation District is host to one of the largest life and marine science clusters in the southeast U.S. NOAA Fisheries is a federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources, providing vital services for the nation including sustainable and safe seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected species, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science.

This mural is part of an agency and local St. Petersburg Innovation District initiative to increase diversity and inclusion within our workforces and inspire students to explore STEAM higher education programs and careers. NOAA Fisheries recognizes the importance and value of maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems. And just like the ecosystems we manage, we recognize the importance of strengthening diversity and inclusion within our workforce and local community, as both are key to fostering new ideas, perspectives, and innovation.

The goal of this mural is to draw attention to the many academic programs and STEAM careers in marine science right here in St. Petersburg, Florida. We are all stewards of the environment, and this mural is an innovative form of outreach to inspire students to turn their love of the environment into a future career.



https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/