Exclusive to members, Members-Only Night is a must-attend monthly speaker series for those who want to learn more about what we do, understand more about what's happening to our oceans and meet the scientists and conservationists who are on the front lines.
Our popular speaker series for members returns! Members-Only Night, held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, hosts a variety of guest speakers to share their knowledge and expertise on a range of topics relating to marine mammals and the ocean environment.
Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, April - October. It's FREE for members and their guests only*. Space is limited and early reservations are recommended. Unless otherwise stated, each Members-Only Night will start at The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands with a reception at 6:00pm, followed by the lecture at 6:30pm. Directions can be found here.
Thank you for joining us at this year’s Members-Only Night lecture series. Check back for an update on what 2013 will have in store!
Past Members-Only Nights
October 10, 2012
Where are they now: Sgt. Nevis and Wishbone aka Stimpy
with Six Flags Discovery KingdomYou may recall Sgt. Nevis' tragic beginning as a gunshot victim that was rescued and treated by The Marine Mammal Center in November 2009. After months of care and rehabilitation in our hospital, including work from a human plastic surgeon to correct damage to his nasal passage, Sgt. Nevis was doing much better. However, it was sadly determined that he would not be able to live a life in the ocean. The decision to transfer Sgt. Nevis was not made lightly, but veterinarians from both organizations agreed that he would thrive at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Several years later, Sgt. Nevis and Wishbone aka Stimpy, another of the Center's unreleasable patients at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, are doing well.
Join us for an evening with the pinniped team of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for an update on Sgt. Nevis, Stimpy, and other past patients of The Marine Mammal Center. Although our hope for all of our patients is to return to a life wild and free in the ocean, this cannot be realized for some due to reasons such as blindness, brain damage, and other debilitating conditions. These special animals serve as educational ambassadors to share their stories with the public, promoting awareness for their species and the ocean environment.
September 12, 2012
Conservation Medicine for Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals
with Dr. Michelle Barbieri
Conservation Medicine Intern, Dr. Michelle Barbieri, just returned from a three week voyage in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. While there, she provided veterinary care for two weaned Hawaiian monk seal pups that were translocated by ship from French Frigate Shoals to Laysan Island, where they have a better chance of survival. RSVP to Members-Only Night to hear about the journey of these two seals and learn more about conservation medicine in Hawaiian monk seals.
Bon Appetit: The eating habits of gray whales and river otters
with Adam RatnerDo you know how much food a gray whale eats each day? Do you know how incredibly cute river otters are? Join Adam Ratner, Visitor Programs Coordinator and animal care volunteer at The Marine Mammal Center, as he shares his research experience with gray whales and river otters in British Columbia. As part of an Earthwatch expedition, he tracked gray whales and studied their feeding behaviors, as well as human impacts on the whales. As a separate research project, he also studied river otter feeding ecology and haul-out spots along the Vancouver coast to identify where the river otters were traveling and their diets.
Bridging the Gap: Marine Mammals and Metalwork
with Dr. Bill Van Bonn and Joe Van Bonn
You may be familiar with The Marine Mammal Center’s Director of Veterinary Science, Dr. Bill Van Bonn. Whether you’ve seen him in slickers and rubber boots tending to a patient in a hospital pen or in a suit presenting at the Annual Vet Sci Year in Review, Dr. Bill is a crucial part of the Center’s work. His brother Joe Van Bonn is an ironworker on the Golden Gate Bridge, just minutes away from The Marine Mammal Center. For decades, Joe has worked on the iconic Bridge, and in a few instances, he has lent The Marine Mammal Center a helping hand with his expertise in ironwork.
Join us for an evening with Dr. Bill Van Bonn and his brother Joe Van Bonn to learn more about the fascinating connection between The Marine Mammal Center’s work of treating and tracking pinniped patients and the Golden Gate Bridge’s renovation.
Studying harbor porpoises and other cetaceans from the Golden Gate Bridge
with William Keener of Golden Gate Cetacean ResearchHarbor porpoises have recently returned to San Francisco Bay after decades away. Through the work of biologists with Golden Gate Cetacean Research, we are learning more about these marine mammals and their sudden return to the area. These researchers are studying and documenting the appearances of harbor porpoises and other cetaceans in the Bay, using the uniquely conducive vantage point of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as their research boat.
Join us for a fascinating evening with Bill Keener, Izzy Szczepaniak and Jon Stern of Golden Gate Cetacean Research to learn more about harbor porpoises, where to see them, and what you can do to help in the study of marine mammals in the Bay.
May 9, 2012
Humpback whales and the Golden Gate Bridge
with Dr. Frances Gulland and Dr. Laurie GageHumpback whales are no strangers to the San Francisco Bay; you may recall Humphrey the humpback whale's wayward journey through the bay in 1985 which garnered national attention. Years later, in 2007, mother and calf Delta and Dawn followed a similar path. All three humpback whales ultimately made their way back to the open ocean, and freedom, with a final farewell underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
With the help of marine mammal specialists including Dr. Frances Gulland, Chief Scientist at The Marine Mammal Center, and Dr. Laurie Gage of the USDA and UC Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine, the stories of Humphrey and Delta and Dawn enjoyed happy endings. Learn more about these amazing cases, straight from the source, at Members-Only Night on Wednesday, May 9 at The Marine Mammal Center!
April 11, 2012, 6:00pm
Pacific Harbor Seals of the San Francisco Bay
Presented by: Dr. Denise Greig and Liz McHuronPacific harbor seals... sure, they're cute and fluffy, but what else do you know about them? Join us on the evening of Wednesday, April 11 for the first Members-Only Night of the season to receive a lesson about Pacific harbor seals. And the timing couldn't be better, it's pupping season in the Bay.
The Marine Mammal Center's alumna Dr. Denise Greig, along with Moss Landing Marine Labs' Liz McHuron, will co-present findings from their scientific studies on Pacific harbor seals of the San Francisco Bay. These two are harbor seal experts! They'll share their recent findings about mercury and other pollutants and possible effects on the health of San Francisco Bay harbor seals.
Contact: Marissa Kalashian at (415) 289-7335 or email kalashianm@tmmc.org for more information or to register for the next event.
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*Number of guests allowed at events is dependant on membership level and space availability. We will accommodate member's guests to the best of our ability.
