2024 Coastal Lecture Series
The Coastal Lecture Series will be returning to the Blake Library in Stuart in January! These free lectures will be held on Tuesday nights from January 9th through March 12th, starting promptly at 6:30 p.m. We are also offering a live simulcast of all lectures for anyone who would like to participate from the comfort of their own home.
To Attend In Person: Registration is not required to attend in-person at the Blake Library, but seating is limited. We recommend arriving at least 15-20 minutes early.
To Attend Virtually (via Zoom): Registration is required to attend remotely using Zoom. You must register for each lecture individually. Click the registration links below for each lecture you would like to attend virtually.
If you have any questions, please contact Director of Education & Exhibits, Dr. Zack Jud at zjud@floridaocean.org.
January 9, 2024
Hurricane! A History of Hurricanes in Florida
Hurricanes have played a huge role in the writing of Florida’s story, from ancient times right through the current century. Step back in time to see how these amazing but devastating weather machines have affected the people, places, and history of the sunshine state.
Presented by Eliot Kleinberg, Author and Journalist
This presentation is supported in part by a grant from Florida Humanities.
January 16, 2024
Blackwater Diving – Creatures of the Dark
The pitch-black ocean off the coast of Florida fills with tiny and bizarre lifeforms each evening – larval fishes, shrimps, jellyfish, and more. Dive in to see how blackwater scuba divers find and photograph these fascinating, alien-looking creatures of the deep that only appear once the sun goes down.
Presented by Linda Ianniello, Underwater Photographer and Author
January 23, 2024
That Tingling Sensation Means It's Working: Impacts of HAB Toxins on Marine Mammals and Other Critters
Pollution-fueled harmful algae blooms (HABs) can produce powerful toxins, capable of impacting a variety of marine animals. Gain a better understanding of the impacts that HABs can have on marine mammals around the globe, and what these impacts may mean for our own health.
Presented by Dr. Spencer Fire, Associate Professor, Florida Institute of Technology
January 30, 2024
Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch Statewide Citizen Science Program
Horseshoe crabs are an example of a living fossil whose ancestors have roamed Earth’s oceans for nearly 450 million years. Get a glimpse into the prehistoric past as you learn more about horseshoe crabs, and efforts that are underway to protect and conserve this important species in Florida.
Presented by Holly Abeels, Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent, University of Florida IFAS
February 6, 2024
The History of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: A Partnership of Rockets and Wildlife
Florida has a rich history of birding and wildlife exploration – a history that helped to shape wildlife conservation today. Discover how early conservation efforts led to the protection of land surrounding the Kennedy Space Center through the creation of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Presented by Charlie Venuto, Professor, American Public University System
February 13, 2024
Microbes, Chemistry, and Coral Sex
Some of the ocean’s smallest organisms can have a huge impact on one of the planet’s most important ecosystems. Explore the role that tiny microbes play in the health, growth, and reproduction of corals, and what these interactions mean for Earth’s critically threatened coral reefs.
Presented by Dr. Jennifer Sneed, Research Biologist, Smithsonian Marine Station
No registration required to attend in person.
February 20, 2024
Dating and Mating in the Fish World: The Fascinating, the Shocking, and the Downright Bizarre
Many fish take mating and reproduction to a level that is far beyond the realm of “normal” when viewed through the human lens. Learn about some of the weirdest reproductive strategies in the animal kingdom, including gender reversals, self-fertilization, sexual parasitism, and much more (PG13).
Presented by Dr. Zack Jud, Director of Education, Florida Oceanographic Society
No registration required to attend in person.
February 27, 2024
Who Made the Everglades? The Archeological History of Florida’s Everglades
The earliest inhabitants of Florida had a profound and lasting influence on the land that sustained their civilizations. Take a geological and cultural journey back in time to see how Florida’s early Native American inhabitants helped to shape the Everglades that we know today.
Presented by Sara Ayers-Rigsby, Region Director, Florida Public Archaeology Network, Florida Atlantic University
March 5, 2024
Everglades Restoration Progress: Building Resilience for South Florida
For more than two decades, extensive efforts have been underway to reverse previous damage inflicted upon the Everglades. Get caught up on the history of Everglades drainage, the progress of ongoing restoration projects, and the benefits that Everglades restoration provides for all of us.
Presented by Dr. Steve Davis, Chief Science Officer, The Everglades Foundation
March 12, 2024
The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans
The allure of seashells is primal. Today, as in the past, seashells provide an immediately recognizable link to the ocean. Examine the ancient human fascination with seashells, their history as currency, their use as religious and luxury objects, and what they reveal about Earth’s changing climate.
Presented by Cynthia Barnett, Author, Senior Lecturer, and Environmental Journalist in Residence, University of Florida
No registration required to attend in person.
This presentation is supported in part by a grant from Florida Humanities.
