Birch Aquarium at Scripps is bringing three evenings of ocean science to La Jolla this fall, kicking off a lecture series tied to the 25th anniversary of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series opens Monday, Sept. 14, with Nancy Knowlton, the scientist who founded CMBC and served as its first director. Knowlton, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and former Sant Chair for Marine Science at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, will deliver a talk titled "Science and Solutions for Our Ocean Planet" at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

According to a Birch Aquarium press release, the series will trace CMBC's history, spotlight current research and look ahead at the center's future. The aquarium said Knowlton's lecture will cover the center's growth from concept to a working interdisciplinary research and education hub.

Two more lectures follow. On Monday, Oct. 12, students and alumni will discuss how CMBC shaped their research and careers. Stuart Sandin, the center's current director, closes the series Monday, Nov. 9, with "Vision for a Thriving Ocean," a talk on CMBC's role in today's research landscape.

Seating is limited.

All three lectures take place at Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Tickets are free for aquarium members and $12 for the general public. Advance reservations are required for all guests, including members.

Registration for the Sept. 14 lecture is open. The aquarium said registration for the October and November events will be added later.

The Perspectives Lecture Series has run for more than two decades, bringing Scripps research to the public through talks at the aquarium's bluff-top La Jolla campus.

Upcoming at Birch Aquarium:

  • Monday, Sept. 14: "Science and Solutions for Our Ocean Planet" with Nancy Knowlton, 7 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 12: "Current Research, Future Impact: Student Perspectives of CMBC," 7 p.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 9: "Vision for a Thriving Ocean" with Stuart Sandin, 7 p.m.