Speaking

In our previous lives as academic scientists, we frequently gave lectures and presentations.  As we travel in our boat, we offer public lectures and presentations for yacht clubs, schools, libraries, churches, environmental groups, and other civic organizations.  We offer talks on three topics and can tailor the presentation to the interests of the audience.    

Sounds in the Sea

A surprisingly diverse array of marine animals produce sound.  This talk explores how marine animals produce sound, why they make sound, the costs of sound production, and how scientists study these sounds.  You will get to hear the sometimes other-worldly sounds that fill the oceans. The talk closes with a game of "Name that (marine animal) Tune."  This talk is a real crowd pleaser and lets Damon nerd out from his doctorate in marine acoustics (but we won't let him go on too long or be too technical, we promise).  For more information, see our Cruising World article What's That (Underwater) Noise?

What is it that humpback whales sing about?

Ten Things All Mariners Should Know About the Ocean

Love being out on the ocean?  Us too.  We think knowing some of the secrets about how the ocean works as a system can help us become better mariners, and can make us all better stewards of the world's oceans.  What drives the oceans' major currents?  Why are tropical waters so clear?  Why are the oceans salty?  We explore these questions and more in this presentation.  Think of it as a mini-course in oceanography!

Why are seals and whales so common in high latitudes but rare in the tropics?

Marine Wildlife of the Intracoastal Waterway 

Meet some of the fascinating critters found in the waters of the ICW and coastal ocean of the southeastern U.S. Learn about their natural history, behavior, and conservation status. Animals in the presentation span the range from charismatic megafauna to sessile invertebrates, have fascinating back-stories and are all important for maintaining healthy ecosystems.  We tell inside stories from our 30 years of studying marine animals in this region.

What's this diamondback terrapin smiling about?  Find out in this talk!

Horseshoe crabs come ashore on Sapelo Island to spawn in the spring

If you are interested in scheduling a talk for your organization, contact us at janetgraygannon@gmail.com.