Birch Aquarium at Scripps Announces Fall Evening Lecture Series

Topics include gray whales and summer swells
Aug 06, 2012

Media Contact:
Jessica Crawford
 |  Phone: 858-534-3624  |  Email: scrippsnews@ucsd.edu
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Announces Fall Evening Lecture Series

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Announces Fall Evening Lecture Series


Dates: Sept. 10, Oct. 8 & Nov. 12
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Public: $8
Students/Educators: $5
RSVP: 858-534-5771 or online

The Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series features engaging presentations on research conducted worldwide by scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Scripps scientists are exploring Earth's mysteries through hundreds of research projects under way on every continent and in every ocean. Learn about science at Scripps and join researchers on their paths to discovery.

Monday, Sept. 10
Whales in a Changing Environment
Wayne Perryman & Dave Weller, NOAA

The North Pacific gray whale has been called an "ecosystem sentinel" because it responds to large-scale environmental changes. Global climate change may ultimately make the biggest impact on these ocean giants. Join us as special guests Wayne Perryman and Dave Weller of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA) discuss how novel information on gray whales is reshaping scientists' understanding of this species.

Monday, Oct. 8
Where the Swell Begins
Walter Munk, Scripps professor emeritus of geophysics

Every summer the California surfing community enjoys the arrival of a long regular swell from the southwest. The origin of the swell is in the winter storms of the Southern Hemisphere, some in the Indian Ocean, half way around the earth. Join internationally renowned Scripps professor Walter Munk to learn how World War II and measurements of Guadalupe Island led to this discovery and what it means for surfers today.

Monday, Nov. 12
Ocean Acidification: Can Corals Cope?
Martin Tresguerres, Scripps marine biologist

Climate warming due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is only part of the "CO2 problem" affecting life on the planet. In fact, much of the CO2 emitted from burning fossil fuels is absorbed by the ocean, causing ocean acidification, a chemical phenomenon threatening marine life. Join Scripps marine biologist Martin Tresguerres as he describes research into the potential impact of ocean acidification on corals and the mechanisms these amazing marine animals use to try coping with the problem.

Perspectives lectures are intended for a lay audience. Birch Aquarium admission and parking are included. Light refreshments will be served.

Past lectures air on UCSD-TV and are broadcast to more than 16 million viewers via satellite and cable television. Lectures also can be found on YouTube. For more information, visit: http://ucsd.tv/oceanscience

About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fish and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond. An interactive museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps scientists on climate, earth and ocean science and features five dozen interactive elements. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Birch Aquarium has an annual attendance of more than 436,000, including 40,000 school children.

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About Scripps Institution of Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical, and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today on every continent and in every ocean. The institution has a staff of about 1,400 and annual expenditures of approximately $170 million from federal, state, and private sources. Scripps operates robotic networks and one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration. Birch Aquarium at Scripps serves as the interpretive center of the institution and showcases Scripps research and a diverse array of marine life through exhibits and programming for more than 425,000 visitors each year. Learn more at scripps.ucsd.edu.