The Aquarium has been providing free lectures and films by scientists, environmental writers, photographers and others since 1972. The Aquarium Lecture Series is presented free to the public through the generosity of the Lowell Institute, which has been providing funding for free public lectures at universities and museums since 1836. 

Lectures are free and open to the public. Registration is requested. All programs start at 7 p.m. in the Aquarium's Harborside Learning Lab unless otherwise noted. Get general directions to the Aquarium, and use this map to find the Harborside Learning Lab (pdf). Programs last approximately one hour followed by a reception.

 


 

Upcoming Lectures

Thursday, March 8

Past Climate and Sea-Level Changes: Looking Back to Our Future
Stephen Pekar, Ph.D, Queens College, City University of New York

Carbon dioxide levels are predicted to rise during this century to levels not seen in over 25 million years. Recently, the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program traveled to Antarctica to recover sedimentary cores that go back to that period. Cores from this time interval are rare, and they can show us what an Earth with elevated CO2 looks like. Dr. Pekar will provide an overview of Antarctic climate changes when CO2 levels were similar to what is predicted for this century and also provide some of the early results from IODP Wilkes Land Expedition.

Register here

 

 

 

 

Thursday, March 15

Penguins on the Rocks: Tales from South Africa
Paul Leonard, Senior Penguin Biologist and Johanna Blasi, Senior Educator, New England Aquarium

In 2010, the African penguin became listed as an endangered species and since then conservation groups have been working to rehabilitate injured or abandoned animals. This past fall, Paul Leonard and Jo Blasi traveled to South Africa to learn more about the work that is being done to save these amazing creatures. At the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Paul and Jo helped rehabilitate many penguins, including young chicks that had been orphaned or abandoned by their parents. Join us to hear more about their stories, pictures and experiences.

Register here

 

 

 

Thursday, March 22

Saving Sea Turtles: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

at Rehabilitation Methods and Field Rescues
Dr. Charles Innis and Connie Merigo

Ever wonder what happens when a sea turtle washes up on shore in New England? Since 1968 the New England Aquarium has been there for thousands of stranded animals, most notably endangered and threatened sea turtles. For cold stunned or injured sea turtles, returning to their home in the sea is only possible after medical attention and often a lengthy rehabilitation. Turtles found alive along our beaches or alive but entangled become patients in the Aquarium’s sea turtle hospital until they are strong enough to return to the wild. This evening's lecture will highlight the Aquarium’s exciting and rewarding work saving these sea turtles.

Register here

 

 

 

Thursday, March 29

Lobsters: From Petri Dish to Dinner Plate

Anita Metzler, Assistant Scientist and

Laboratory Operations Manager
New England Aquarium

American Lobsters (Homarus americanus) are a cultural icon and one of the most important fisheries in New England. Here at the New England Aquarium, we use unique, experimental approaches to investigate the biology, behavior and physiology of this interesting crustacean. Anita Metzler of the Lobster Research and Rearing Facitity will present her current research on the development of shell disease on juvenile American lobsters and hatchery raised European Lobsters (Homarus gammarus). She will also give a sneak peek into the research her undergraduate student interns are conducting on the diet of juvenile lobsters as it relates to shell disease and their overall health.
Register here

 

 

 

Thursday, April 12

Too Much of a Good Thing: Fossil Fuels and the Fate of Coral Reefs
Anne Cohen PhD, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Coral reefs need carbon dioxide to grow, but too much carbon dioxide can destroy them. Humans have released more than 1,000 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. One-third of that carbon dioxide has found its way into our oceans, wreaking havoc with ocean chemistry and threatening marine life. Millions of people worldwide depend on coral reefs for their livelihood. But what will be their fate? Anne Cohen shares her extensive research on coral reefs and how they respond to excess carbon dioxide. She reveals why curbing emissions is the central challenge for the preservation of coral reef ecosystems in the 21st century.

Register here

 

 

Wednesday, April 25

6:30 pm,Simons IMAX Theatre

Ocean Health Index Update
Greg Stone PhD, Senior Vice President of Exploration and Conservation at New England Aquarium and Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist for Oceans at Conservation International

Greg Stone will discuss the importance of creating an Ocean Health Index, with the aim to foster the conservation of our oceans in a systemic and highly effective manner. Dr. Stone was recently discussing the Ocean Health Index at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he and other ocean conservation leaders, including NEAq’s president, Bud Ris, continue to advocate for policy changes to protect the oceans.

Register here

 

 

Thursday, May 10

(followed by book signing)

An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran the World
Anders Halverson, PhD, Author

Over a century ago, the U.S. government became concerned that American men were becoming less virile. To reverse this trend they decided to populate streams, rivers, and lakes with “an entirely ‘synthetic’ fish”— to help Americans rediscover their abilities to capture and kill. These creatures are still being produced and distributed on a massive scale, sometimes even being trained like gladiators and pumped full of the same supplements as the best human athletes so they provide a better fight. Award-winning journalist, aquatic ecologist and lifelong fisherman Anders Halverson will discuss the discovery of rainbow trout, their artificial propagation and distribution of this commonly stocked fish.

Register here

 

 

 

Thursday, May 17

(followed by book signing)

Reading the Ocean by the Light of its Inhabitants
Edith Widder, PhD
CEO, President & Senior Scientist
Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc.

At depths where sunlight is dim or absent and in surface waters at night animals produce light called bioluminescence to attract mates, find food and evade predators. The ancient Polynesians were masters at reading this light and used bioluminescence as an aide to navigation.  Modern oceanographers are learning to read and interpret this language as well. Dr. Widder will highlight recent applications she has seen firsthand, including the use of this light to lure predators and to help protect marine ecosystems by making pollution visible.

Register here

 

 

 

 

Thursday, May 24

The Secret Lives of Leatherbacks: Satellite Tracking the World’s Largest Sea Turtles
Kara Dodge, PhD candidate, University of New Hampshire – Department of Biological Sciences and UMass-Amherst - Large Pelagics Research Center

Each year, Cape Cod plays host to the world’s largest sea turtle—the leatherback. Weighing up to 1,000 pounds, leatherback turtles swim thousands of miles from their tropical breeding grounds to the chilly habitat of New England in pursuit of their jellyfish prey. We know surprisingly little about these ocean giants, particularly in their Northeast US feeding grounds. After spending time from Cape Cod to Barbados throughout her career, Kara Dodge shares her experiences and her most recent work on these fantastic creatures.

Register here

 

 

 

 

Thursday, June 14

Simons IMAX Theatre

Dinner Matters: Lobster Love, Sushi Secrets and

How We Can Help Save the Seas with Smart Eating
Trevor Corson, bestselling author of The Secret Life of Lobsters

and The Story of Sushi

Trevor Corson draws on his experiences researching and writing his two bestselling books —The Secret Life of Lobsters and The Story of Sushi—as well as his two years as a full-time commercial fisherman, his current work as the only "Sushi Concierge" in the United States and his appearances as a judge on Food Network TV's Iron Chef America, to share his passion for marine science and fishing, the amusing social life of lobsters, the surprising secrets of sushi and the current plight of the endangered bluefin tuna. Using stories, photos, and videos, Carson ties his far-flung subject matter together with an empowering message about how our choices at the dinner table and the ways we harvest our seafood can help save our oceans.

Register here