Ocean Lectures

Stefan Huggenberger presents "Moby Dick's Boom Box: Sound production in giant sperm whales"

Dr. Dave Johnson gives a lecture entitled "From whales... to whalefish tales: Why bother with morphology?"

Explore the link between Smithsonian science and the US Fisheries Albatross, a research vessel that sailed approximately one million miles from 1882-1921. The US Fish Commission Steamer Albatross (1882-1921) sailed approximately one million miles, in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and collected millions of organisms. The Albatross had a special and vital link with Smithsonian science, for the vessel was the brainchild of Spencer Baird, second Secretary of the Smithsonian. At least 10 prominent Smithsonian scientists – including Bartsch, Bean, Clark, Gill, True, Schmitt, and Stejneger, sailed on the Albatross, to such exotic places as The Galapagos Islands, Kamchatka, Japan, and The Philippines. Months-long cruises shaped the careers of these scientists, and the resulting collections helped to shape the U.S. National Museum (now known as the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History). Astonishingly, about 40 percent of the Smithsonian's current National Collections of marine animals were obtained by the Albatross. Recently-acquired private diaries and letters provide rare insights into life on board the vessel--exciting scientific discoveries, men overboard, jellyfish stings, drunken sailors, shore leave, and emerging volcanic islands. The thrill of discovery during the Albatross days lives on today--and we still have about 95% of the ocean to explore! This presentation was given by Smithsonian scientist David Pawson on September 15, 2011.

Marine mammals around the world face many challenges due to interactions with people, from overfishing and entanglement to vessel strikes and disturbance from human sounds. Dr. Brandon Southall discusses recent findings from SOCAL‐10, a research project about the effects of noise on the behavior of whales and dolphins. This presentation was recorded at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History on Jan. 6, 2011. Learn more in Dr. Southall's guest blog post on the Ocean Portal.

Monk seals -- the only completely tropical species of seal in the world -- are in trouble. Centuries of human exploitation and habitat destruction have caused the remaining populations of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) to drop to perilously low numbers, while the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis) has become extinct. Working from opposite sides of the world, scientists from Greece and the U.S. are in a race against time to save the remaining monk seals. Hear about their work in this webcast, recorded on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Alexandros Karamanlidis discuss his organization's efforts to research the Mediterranean monk seals. Karamanlidis is the scientific coordinator for the MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal. It's a non-profit organization with more than 20 years of experience in the research and conservation of Mediterranean monk seals in Greece and abroad. Researchers at MOm have gained rare insights in the biology and behavior of the Mediterranean monk seal, including recent innovative technology that has enabled the seals to be monitored remotely inside their breeding caves. In this webcast, Karamanlidis shares rare footage of a baby monk seal being born in the wild. His organization's current and future collaborations with U.S. scientists studying Hawaiian monk seals will provide important insights into new ways to help the two remaining species of monk seals survive into the future.

The ocean is not as natural as it once was. Where there used to be large predators that we took for sea monsters, now there are tiny fish and jellyfish. But there are a few untouched places left in the ocean, remote oases of life where sharks are the kings of the underwater world. These last wild places can show us what we have lost, but also help us understand how the ocean works and how to preserve it. National Geographic Ocean Fellow Enric Sala takes us on a virtual expedition of the biologically-rich waters of Chile, Costa Rica, and Kiribati. Sala is a marine ecologist who dedicates his career to restoring ocean health. A former professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, his work includes exploration, research, communication, and policy. This webcast was recorded at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on June 9, 2011.

With the recent cholera outbreaks in Haiti, the impact of climate change on communicable diseases is becoming a major public health issue. Join use for the third installment of the Changing Tides lecture series, featuring Dr. Rita Colwell, a former director of the National Science Foundation and Distinguished University Professor at both the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Colwell's research looks at the connection between the ocean and human health, in particular waterborne infectious diseases, such as Cholera. This lecture was presented February 24, 2011.

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, opening up a well that pumped nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the ocean. It was the largest spill in U.S. history. In this presentation given at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on April 19, 2011, experts discuss oil spill remediation, wildlife rescue, and the health of the Gulf of Mexico and its fisheries one year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began: * Dr. Nancy Knowlton, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History: Discussion Modertaor * Dr. David Hollander, University of South Florida: The fate of the oil and its impact * Dr. Judilee Marrow, National Zoo: Rescuing Gulf Coast wildlife * Dr. John Stein, NOAA: Gulf seafood and fisheries * Dr. James Bonner, Clarkson University: Oil spill clean-up The panel presentation is part of the "Changing Tides: A Series of Ocean Discussions" in which top ocean scientists explain current research and how it is helping to change the tide in ocean science and conservation.

Dr. Isaac Ginis presented "Eye on the Storm: Predicting a Hurricane's Path of Destruction", in October 2010. This second installment of the Changing Tides lecture series featured Dr. Isaac Ginis, a Professor of Oceanography at The University of Rhode Island and an expert in hurricane modeling. Dr. Ginis discussed how scientists observe, model, and forecast hurricanes around the world. You can also read his "Ingredients of a Hurricane" post on the Ocean Portal blog.

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef brings together mathematics, marine science, craft, and community activism in an effort to raise awareness about the threat to coral reefs worldwide. This discussion considers the impact of community projects on conservation efforts with: Margaret Wertheim, Co-Founder, The Institute for Figuring Rick MacPherson, Conservation Programs Director, Coral Reef Alliance Jennifer Lindsay, Programming Coordinator, The Smithsonian Community Reef Barbara Parker, Luther Place Memorial Church and N Street Village Community

Panel Discussion about the world premiere of PLAN B: MOBILIZING TO SAVE CIVILIZATION (USA, 2011, 84 min.) World Premiere Called “one of the world’s most influential thinkers” by The Washington Post, environmentalist Lester Brown has received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the United Nations Environmental Prize and Japan’s Blue Planet Prize. Shot on location in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rome, Istanbul, Ankara and Washington, D.C., the film features Lester Brown's recent visits with world leaders to discuss ways to respond to the challenges of climate change. It begins with a dramatic portrayal of a world where there is a mounting tide of public concern about melting glaciers and sea level rise and a growing sense that we need to change course in how we react to emerging economic and social pressures. The film also spotlights a world where ocean resources are becoming scarce, croplands are eroding and harvests are shrinking. But what makes Plan B significant and timely is that it provides audiences with hopeful solutions – a road map that will help eradicate poverty, stabilize populations and protect and restore our planet's fisheries, forests, soils and biological diversity. Produced by Emmy-Award winning filmmakers Marilyn Weiner and Hal Weiner. Introduced by Cristián Samper, Director, National Museum of Natural History. Panel moderated by filmmakers Marilyn Weiner and Hal Weiner follows screening. Panelists include Lester Brown, Earth Policy Institute, Thomas Lovejoy, Professor, College of Science, George Mason University, and Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior. Held March 27, 2011 in Baird Auditorium at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.