In 2004, MERI introduced the monthly Ocean Environment Lecture Series offering year-round presentations on topics related to marine wildlife and the ocean environment. This series was created to increase public awareness and understanding of critical ocean issues and to enhance stewardship of ocean resources by reaching out to the community. Lectures to date have addressed a wide range of subjects, including endangered marine species, fisheries issues, global climate change, cold water corals, and the impacts of ocean pollution on Gulf of Maine seals and the polar bears of Svalbard, Norway.
In celebration of MERI's 20th anniversary, the 2010 Ocean Environment Lecture Series, “Facing the Ocean Crisis: Reasons for Hope,” builds on the momentum of the State of the Oceans Forums led by MERI Director Dr. Susan Shaw and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle at The Explorers Club in New York City in 2009. The lecture series will feature the world’s leading marine scientists and explorers such as Captain Charles Moore and deep-sea robotics pioneer Dr. David Gallo who will explore pressing topics -- marine plastic debris, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, fisheries depletion and destruction of the ocean floor – and possible solutions on the horizon. The 2010 Ocean Environment Lecture Series is part of MERI’s campaign to save the world’s most crucial natural resource – the living ocean – while there is still time.
Lectures are held at the MERI Center for Marine Studies, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, Maine from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. A reception in MERI’s Ocean Art Gallery begins at 6:00 p.m. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. For information, call us at (207) 374-2135, or email info@meriresearch.org.
Upcoming Lectures:
On Thin Ice: The Changing World of the Polar Bear
Richard Ellis
Marine Conservationist, Author and Artist
Thursday, September 23
Join us for a special talk by the painter, author, and conservationist Richard Ellis. In addition to being the foremost natural history painter in the country, he has tackled an amazing array of subjects, writing definitive books on marine topics ranging from sharks, whales and giant squid, to tuna fishing and even the lost city of Atlantis. Lately he has turned his attention to the plight of the polar bear, which faces severe threats from global warming. Come hear him discuss this fascinating species and its uncertain future. Reception 6pm/Lecture 7pm.
Click here for a calendar of this year's lectures.
Recent Lectures:
Hope From the Deep: Saving the Ocean Floor
David Gallo
Oceanographer
Director of Special Projects, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Friday, July 23
Join us as Dr. David Gallo, internationally recognized oceanographer, shares his expertise and his hopes for saving the vital ecosystems that lie deep beneath our oceans. Dr. Gallo is a perennial favorite here at MERI; this is sure to be a popular event. A reception is at 6 pm, and the lecture begins at 7 pm.
Can Green Chemistry Help Prevent the Next Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster? Everyday Toxics, Environmental Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry
Elizabeth Grossman
Environmental Journalist & Author
Thursday, June 10
Even as a toxic tragedy unfolds in the Gulf, thousands of hazardous chemicals already permeate every aspect of our lives—in plastic water bottles, electronics, even children’s toys—with consequences for environmental and human health. Join us as Elizabeth Grossman, acclaimed journalist, discusses the oil spill, as well as her book, Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry, and radically new products that are “benign by design” to ensure a healthier world. Stream her lecture from MPBN here.
The Future of Coral Reefs: Ecosystems in Peril
Dr. Nancy Knowlton, Coral Reef Biologist
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
Thursday, May 20
Threatened by ocean acidification, global warming's "evil twin", coral reefs may vanish by the year 2050 if carbon dioxide emissions continue at the present rate. Please join us for a special evening with world coral expert, Dr. Nancy Knowlton, as she discusses the devastating impact of acid waters and warming sea temperatures on coral reefs and what she considers important "top down" and "bottom up" solutions to this urgent global problem. Click here for more information.
Ocean Lessons: Hopeful Solutions and the Power of the Next Generation
Dr. David Guggenheim, "The Ocean Doctor"
Marine Scientist, Explorer, Conservation Policy Specialist, Founder 1planet1ocean
Friday, April 30
Please join us as "The Ocean Doctor" discusses the wonder of the oceans, their most critical issues, and the importance of policy and education in shaping their future. From a tiny submarine 2,000 feet beneath Alaska's Bering Sea to the halls of Washington and classrooms across our country, Guggenheim is a marine explorer and conservation policy specialist dedicated to educating others about the ocean crisis. At MERI, Guggenheim will discuss policies and technologies that hold promise for the oceans as well as insight gained from his ambitious "50 States-50 Speeches" campaign to promote marine science awareness among American school children - the next generation of ocean stewards. Click here for more information.
Sea Anemone and Clownfish Symbiosis: Conservation Highlights from Finding Nemo
Dr. Ann Cleveland
Chair, Corning School of Ocean Studies
Maine Maritime Academy
Thursday, March 11
Please join us for an evening with marine ecologist, Dr. Ann Cleveland, as she presents Conservation Highlights from "Finding Nemo", a MERI 20th Anniversary Ocean Environment Lecture. One of the important ecosystem interactions maintaining the health of coral reefs is that of the clownfish and its host, the sea anemone. However, due to their rising popularity for the aquarium trade, clownfish schools have decreased substantially. One way to address this problem is through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), regulated marine areas that provide lasting protection for natural resources. Come hear Dr. Cleveland’s research on how expanding MPAs can help preserve the vital interactions that sustain the life of coral reef ecosystems.
Saving a Species: Students and Science in Action
Amy Knowlton, New England Aquarium Scientist
Castine School Students, The Calvineers
Bill McWeeny, Teacher and Scientist, The Adams School
Thursday, February 11
Join us at MERI for a special evening as Amy Knowlton, Bill McWeeny, and the Calvineers tell their story about Calvin, an inspirational whale, and discuss the current research, education and legal efforts underway to restore and protect the North Atlantic right whale. With only 400 right whales left in the Atlantic, the Calvineers are student-scientists on a mission. Through their presentations of the genetic, environmental and human threats to whales, they bring attention to the plight of one of the world’s most endangered marine mammal species. Sponsored by Deepwater LLC and Saltmeadow Properties.
View press release.
A Sea of Plastic
Charles Moore; Sailor, Ocean Advocate, Founder of Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Friday, January 8
Widely recognized for his 1997 discovery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of Texas, Moore has pioneered the research and remediation of the oceans’ plastic burden. Plastic debris has infiltrated all levels of the ocean food web, killing 100,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds annually, and threatening human health. In the first lecture of MERI’s 20th Anniversary Ocean Environment Lecture Series, Moore will explore the challenges of our “throw away culture” and our role in a solution.
Download event flyer.
View press release.
Past Lectures:
The Life and Times of Baby Harp Seals
Gary Harmatz; Wildlife Photographer
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Living on the Edge (of the Sea)
Dr. John Roberts; Emeritus Professor, Pres. Blue Hill Historical Society
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Oceans in Crisis: Emerging Health Risks, Innovative Solutions
Dr. Susan Shaw; Founder/ Director of MERI
Thursday, September 24, 2009