January 7, 2020
Sea Level Rise - Fact and Fiction
With coastal Florida already feeling the effects of sea level rise, find out how small changes in sea level might impact our state – and the rest of the planet – in the not-to-distant future. This eye-opening crash course on sea level rise will provide a clear and easy to understand summary of the risks associated with increased flooding due to rising seas, extreme tides, and severe storms, as well as suggestions for “intelligent adaptation” to live in a flood-prone world.
Presented by: John Englander, Internationally Recognized Oceanographer, Author, and Sea Level Rise Expert
January 14, 2020
Hope for Healthier Waters in the Sunshine State: Update 2019
Get caught up on the current health of our local waterways, and see how larger efforts to restore the Everglades are progressing. Florida’s waters have faced a few difficult years in a row, but 2019 was different. Positive changes in the management of Lake Okeechobee resulted in cleaner waters in our coastal estuaries this summer. Florida’s voters have asked for healthier water, and we’re finally seeing movement in the right direction.
Presented by: Mark Perry, Executive Director, Florida Oceanographic Society
JANUARY 21, 2020
Images Documenting the History of Hutchinson Island
Our island paradise has seen many changes over the last 100+ years. Step back in time to see what Hutchinson Island looked like before condominiums replaced oak hammocks, as viewed through the eyes of Sandy’s personal collection of incredible historical photos and gifted storytelling.
Presented by: Sandy Thurlow, Noted Author and Historian
February 4, 2020
The Oceans’ Oddest Creatures and Why They Matter
Dive in to learn more about some of the oceans’ weirdest, wackiest, most wonderful – and most important – creatures. Laugh while you learn about strange and fascinating organisms, their bizarre lifestyles, and why marine species are critical to both the ocean and human society. Based on the book Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime, this talk takes an entertaining look at marine biodiversity, its relevance to the average person, and why ocean life is now at risk.
Presented by: Dr. Ellen Prager, Internationally Recognized Marine Scientist and Author
February 11, 2020
Light in the Sea: Extremes of Vision in Marine Giants
Did you know that Tarpon see in color far better than people do, while right whales cannot see color at all and may be blind in bright light? Some of the most charismatic marine megafauna - giants of the sea - are shedding new light on the mechanisms of vision in animals and people. See how vision in large marine animals differs from human vision, and how insights into marine vision may help us understand visual disorders in humans.
Presented by: Dr. Michael Grace, Professor Emeritus, Florida Institute of Technology
FEBRUARY 25, 2020
FWC Tequesta Field Laboratory – Local Research, Monitoring and More
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Tequesta Field Laboratory is conducting amazing fish and wildlife research right in our backyard. Learn about the history of the lab and the work currently being conducted by FWC scientists in our region, with a focus on tracking the movements, behaviors, and population dynamics of some of our favorite marine gamefish species – research that helps to drive critical management decisions.
Presented by: Erick Ault, Research Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
March 3, 2020
Deepwater Horizon – Ten Years Later
Discover the lasting impacts of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill on the unique and important deep sea creatures that call the Gulf of Mexico home. This research work, which started nearly a decade ago, will give us a glimpse into the secret lives of bizarre fish and invertebrates that live thousands of feet below the surface of the Gulf – species that were at ground zero in the days and years following the Deepwater Horizon spill.
Presented by: Dr. Jon Moore, Professor, Florida Atlantic University
March 10, 2020
The boys are back in town: Seasonal aggregations of blacktip sharks in southeast Florida
Every winter, thousands of blacktip sharks migrate to coastal waters in south Florida. While it’s not uncommon to see these sharks leaping and spinning in the air just off our beaches, the reason they choose to winter in our part of Florida is the focus of much scientific research. See how scientists are tracking the movements of these important predators, and how climate change may affect their migratory patterns.
Presented by: Dr. Stephen Kajiura, Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Watch Additional Lectures
2021 Coastal Lecture Series
2022 Coastal Lecture Series
2023 Coastal Lecture Series
