Last year, Man and Whales: Changing Views Through Time brought a new format to lectures at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. And we are expanding this year - blending science and history in a ‘then’ and ‘now’ format as we examine historical and current aspects of a variety of whale and whaling related topics. 

The lectures will be held on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Museum Theater.  A reception will be held in the Jacobs Family Gallery before each lecture beginning at 6:30 pm. Admission is free.

Shipping, Fishing and the Urban Whale (March 31)

As ships went from sail to steam to diesel, and became bigger andfaster, the risk of whales being injured or killed by vessel strikeshas dramatically increased. Similarly with fishing gear, the switchfrom natural hemp ropes to long-lasting polypropylene line has resultedin whales becoming injured or killed from entanglements.

Amy Knowlton, Research Scientist at the New England Aquarium,has studied shipping issues and trends, and the impacts to whalepopulations, for over a decade.  She will provide a history of regionalshipping, interactions between ships and whales, and the ongoingresearch, education and politics involved in decreasing whale injuriesand death, especially as it relates to the critically endangered NorthAtlantic right whale.

David Cassoni, President of Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association,will tell us about the changes implemented by the lobster industry tolessen the likelihood of whales getting entangled in lobster gear. Dave will bring samples of the gear and explain their functions.

Wave Glider: Expanding our Ability to Listen to Whales (April 14)

Studying whales is a rewarding but daunting task.  Whales may bebig; the ocean is bigger and the weather doesn’t always cooperate. Providing a complete picture of the animals and the habitat requirescollaboration, technology and ingenuity. 

Joe Rizzi, Chairman of the Jupiter Foundation, got togetherin his early retirement with a small group of very talented friends tocreate programmable, mobile technology for listening to whales. Tonight’s presentation is a story about how listening to whalesinspired the invention of an elegant device that will not only enablefurther whale studies, but could become a host-platform for a widerange of previously impossible oceanic applications.

A Case for Oil  (May 19)

Blubber was removed from whales, rendered and sold as the oil usedfor light, heat, tanning and other products.  But what about productsmade from the oil found in the melon of toothed whales?  What’s itsfunction in the lives of odontocetes, especially the sperm whale? 

George Mock, Treasurer and Chairman of the Board, and former President of Nye Lubricants, Inc.successfully guided his company through the transition from natural tosynthetic oils.   His presentation will focus on the 160 year-oldcompany’s use of melon and sperm case oil in its product lines prior tothe 1970s.

Peter Tyack, Senior Scientist, Biology Department and Directorof the Marine Mammal Center at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionstudies social behavior and acoustic communication in whales anddolphins.  He will share results of his research, which has given us agreater understanding of the function and form of the sperm whale’scase.

This series is presented in partnerhsip between WDCS and NBWMwith generous sponsorship by ECHO (Education through Cultural andHistorical Organizations) a program administered by the U.S. Departmentof Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement.

---

WDCS will be at Eastern Mountain Sports annual Club Day Event (April 23rd & 24th)

WDCS will be at EMS on Saturday the 24th from 12m to 2pm.
All WDCS supporters will receive 20% off all items

Related programs links Strandings Killing and trade Species