Our Changing Ocean

This series consists of four stand-alone sessions: you can register for a single session or receive a discounted rate if you register for the entire series.

Humans are intimately connected to the global ocean: we rely on it for food, energy, transportation, jobs, recreation and even oxygen. Despite covering over 70 percent of the planet, providing a home to two million of Earth’s species, and containing some of the world’s tallest mountains and deepest valleys, the ocean is largely unexplored and holds many secrets to fully understanding our planet.

Increasing human population and world economic activity have resulted in accelerated exploitation of Earth’s resources and direct and indirect impacts to the global ocean. Additionally, as population densities in coastal areas increase, so too does the need to better understand and respond to ocean-related natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

Linking elements of chemistry, physics, biology and geology, these sessions will look at a number of ocean issues of societal concern and how technology is allowing us to better understand our changing ocean. Each session will include a 1.5-hour lecture followed by 30 minutes of discussion