Webinar Series
The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators, students, and the interested public with educational and scientific expertise, resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy. This series generally targets formal and informal educators that are engaging students (elementary through college) in formal classroom settings, as well as members of the community in informal educational venues (e.g. after school programs, science centers, aquariums, etc.). However, the series is open to anyone interested in the topics listed below.
For distance learning programs about marine mammals and other protected species in the wild, please visit our Wildlife Viewing Guidelines and the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources' Marine Life Viewing Guidelines to ensure you are aware of the regulations.
Upcoming Webinars
Fire + Atmospheric Rivers = Debris Flows: Impact on Intertidal Black Abalone
April 9, 2025 at 2:30 pm Hawaii / 5:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
Dr. Steve Lonhart, Research Ecologist at NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Join Dr. Steve Lonhart, a research ecologist from NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, who will be speaking about his research with the black abalone population off of Big Sur. Black abalone, or Haliotis cracherodii, are marine snails found on the west coast that feed on algae.
This presentation is a part of the "Discover Your Sanctuary Speaker Series" which is hosted by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Coastal Discovery Center out of San Simeon, California.
Moving Cargo and Keeping Whales Safe in Southern California's National Marine Sanctuaries
April 11 at 12 pm Hawaii / 3 pm Pacific / 5 pm Central / 6 pm Eastern
Vanessa ZoBell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, Scripps Machine Listening Lab
Marine organisms, including whales, rely on sound for daily life functions, such as communicating, navigating, and foraging. Join Dr. Vanessa Zobell, a postdoc from the Scripps Machine Learning Lab who will discuss the importance of studying whale acoustics, the threat of noise pollution that whales are facing in the Southern California national marine sanctuaries, and creative solutions to protect these important animals.
Monterey Bay’s Iconic Kelp Forests
April 16, 2025 at 2:30 pm Hawaii / 5:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
Dr. Lisa Wooninck, Superintendent at NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
One of our nation's most spectacular marine protected areas, NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the world! This "Serengeti of the Sea" stretches along the central coast from San Francisco to Cambria and includes pristine beaches, jewel-like tide pools, lush kelp forests, steep canyons and an offshore seamount teeming with life—from tiny shrimp to giant blue whales. We invite you to learn more about this national undersea treasure. Join Dr. Lisa Wooninck, NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent, who will be speaking about the sanctuary's kelp forest ecosystems.
This presentation is a part of the "Discover Your Sanctuary Speaker Series" which is hosted by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Coastal Discovery Center out of San Simeon, California.
Protecting Blue Whales, Blue Skies
April 30, 2025 at 2:30 pm Hawaii / 5:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
Sean Hastings, Policy, Information, and Management Officer at NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Join Sean Hastings, Policy, Information, and Management Officer for NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Founder of the "Protecting Blue Blue Whales and Blue Skies," which is a voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction verification and recognition program that aims to reduce ship strikes to endangered whales, underwater noise, and air pollution.
This presentation is a part of the "Discover Your Sanctuary Speaker Series" which is hosted by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Coastal Discovery Center out of San Simeon, California.