Discovery Lecture Series

Discovery Lecture Series

MDC’s Monthly Public Lecture Series provides a forum for the community to learn about Florida’s Coastal & Indian River Lagoon Ecosystems and surrounding habitats.  Qualified staff & guest speakers will share their knowledge about a vast array of topics including plants and animals, water quality, citizen science, local conservation efforts, and much more!

Our public lectures are FREE and open to the public but advance registration is required. All lectures will be held on the 1st Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m. in our Learning Lab.

2024-25 Schedule
September 5 | Eve Payor, Atlantic Center for the Arts:  “The Power of Being Outdoors
October 3 | Ariel Horner, Bat Conservancy of Florida:  “Bats
November 7 | Rebecca Harris, Smyrnéa Archaeological Research Institute:  “Biological Fossils of NSB’s Old Fort
December 5 | Chad Truxall, Marine Discovery Center:  Title TBD
January 9 | Julie Albert & Joel Cohen, Right Whale Sighting Network:  “North Atlantic Right Whale Update
February 6 | Michael Brothers, Florida Ornithological Society:  “The Wonder of Bird Migration
March 6 | Laurilee Thompson, Dixie Crossroads (and lifelong Lagoon resident):  “Indian River Lagoon Legacy
April 3 | Jungle Jim Greene + a special guest, Jungle Adventures:  “Living with Alligators
May 1 | Eric Sander, Shark Biologist:  “Why is NSB the Shark Bite Capital of the World

Register online now!

View some of our past public lectures below…

Conservation & Restoration

September 21, 2023

Florida Corals

May 18, 2023

Chatting with the Chads

September 15, 2022

Timucua of Volusia County

May 19, 2022

Right Whales

January 20, 2022

Sea Turtle Conservation

October 21, 2021

Florida's Springs

July 15, 2021

Bird Migration

April 15, 2021

Right Whales

January 21, 2021

Coyotes

August 20, 2020

Invasive Species of Florida

April 16, 2020

Canaveral Turtle Nesting

July 20, 2023

Giant Ground Sloth

July 21, 2022

Sharks

August 18, 2022

Otters

April 21, 2022

Migratory Birds

February 17, 2022

Seagrass

September 16, 2021

Manatees in the IRL

June 17, 2021

Microplastics in the IRL

March 18, 2021

Seahorse Research

October 15, 2020

Climate Change & Coastal Resilience

July 16, 2020

Manatees

April 20, 2023

NSB Coastal History

March 17, 2022

2021: A Year in Review at MDC

November 18, 2021

Diamondback Terrapins

August 19, 2021

Honey Bees

May 20, 2021

Horseshoe Crabs and Human Health

February 18, 2021

Florida Weather Myths

September 17, 2020

Bird Walks at MDC

May 21, 2020

Our Mission:

"To protect and restore Florida's coastal and Indian River Lagoon ecosystems
through education, research and community stewardship."