This lecture is FREE but registration is required. CLICK HERE to register.

Sometimes it’s confusing to have the Marine Discovery Center and the Marine Science Center in the same area of coastal Volusia County. Add to that the fact that the leader at each center is named Chad.

So, to clear up confusion, answer questions and have a little fun with the coastal conundrum, the Marine Discovery Center’s Executive Director Chad Truxall and the Marine Science Center’s Manager Chad Macfie will share the stage for the September Marine Discovery Center Public Lecture Series.

“Chatting With the Chads” will be the featured presentation on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held on the Marine Discovery Center campus (*Specific location TBD)

The Marine Discovery Center is a nonprofit educational organization located in New Smyrna Beach south of Ponce Inlet that was founded in 1997. Located north of the inlet in the town of Ponce Inlet, the Marine Science Center opened in 2002 and is operated through Volusia County Environmental Management.

South Florida native Chad Truxall came to the Marine Discovery Center in 2004 as its director of education after having taught science at the former New Smyrna Beach High School, previously located on the current campus site of MDC. Truxall became MDC’s executive director in 2011. He is a Florida Master Naturalist Program instructor and serves as the coordinator for the Florida region of the Association of Nature Center Administrators.

Chad Macfie grew up in South Daytona and began his career at the Florida Museum of Natural History, where he worked in the fish collection and as a shark fisheries biologist. Since joining the Marine Science Center in 2005, Macfie has worked as the aquarium and life support systems manager, special projects coordinator and in his current role as manager. In addition, he helps Volusia County’s Artificial Reef Program by training divers and students how to identify invertebrates and fishes in support of the county’s monitoring program.

*MDC is undergoing a lot of exciting changes this fall, and due to a variety of construction projects the actual location of each month’s public lecture on MDC’s campus may vary. Likely locations will be the Learning Lab, Classroom, or outdoor Pavilion. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience.

The lecture is open to the public at no charge  |  Registration is required