10/28/2026
Upcoming FREE online lectures from our friends at Road Scholar https://www.roadscholar.org/collections/online-lectures/
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at 11 a.m. (ET) Saving the Hidden Coral of the Mediterranean: Beneath the sparkling surface of the Mediterranean lies a hidden world most people never encounter — ancient coral habitats that shelter more than 1,800 species. These fragile underwater gardens took centuries to form, yet destructive bottom trawling can flatten them in a matter of minutes. Join marine biologist Anastasia Miliou of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation for a film screening followed by a live conversation about the urgent mission to protect them. The film follows a team of scientists, who have been painstakingly mapping the region's coral to build the hard scientific evidence needed to secure its future. Since 1998, the Archipelagos Institute has grown into one of the Mediterranean's most respected research and conservation institutes, welcoming more than 27,000 young people from 43 countries and inspiring a new generation of scientists to take on the enormous challenges facing our seas.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 11 a.m. (ET) Age Well: Understanding & Managing Age-Related Hearing Loss: Hearing loss is a common part of aging, but it’s not always easy to spot or talk about. Join auditory cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Anna-Katharina Bauer to better understand age-related hearing loss, how it differs from other types of hearing changes and why it often goes undiagnosed. Learn about early warning signs, try simple at-home hearing checks and explore strategies and technologies that can help improve communication in daily life, whether for yourself or a loved one.
Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 1 p.m. (ET) Florida’s Gentle Giants — Protecting Manatees Above & Below: Join us this Manatee Awareness Month for a program featuring footage from the 150,000-gallon manatee habitat at the new Mote Science Education Aquarium. Jason Robertshaw, certified Florida Master Naturalist and Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory, will share more than 30 years of groundbreaking manatee research, exploring how scientists use aerial surveys, drones and photo-identification to track populations, monitor migration patterns and identify critical habitats. Learn how researchers catalog individual manatees by their unique scars and markings, creating decades-long records that help shape state and federal conservation efforts. At a critical time for the species, you’ll gain insight into the threats manatees face — including seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, cold stress and human impact — and how science is guiding conservation efforts. This lecture offers a compelling look at how data and discovery come together to protect one of Florida’s most iconic animals.
