On September 1 at 7pm, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is hosting a live lecture presented by Dr. Jon Hare of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. His talk, “The Comings and Goings of Climate Change - Thinking About Cape Cod’s Marine Ecosystems of the Future” is the last lecture of the MMA’s FREE Science Speaker Series and will be held via Zoom.

Climate change is affecting all aspects of our lives, and the ocean waters of the Northeast are among the fastest warming in the world. The evidence for climate change is overwhelming, and the impacts on marine ecosystems are profound. In and around Cape Cod, southern species are occurring more frequently, both in scientific studies and on fishing lines. Northern species, on the other hand, are declining and moving out of our waters. In addition to warming, oceans are becoming more acidic ̶  a phenomenon termed ocean acidification, which is caused by increased carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification is primarily affecting species with shells, which include clams, scallops, and whelks. From a fisheries perspective, these changes will create challenges and opportunities. Thinking about the future can help prepare us for what is to come.

Jon Hare is the Science and Research Director of the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center based in Woods Hole. He has a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and has worked for NOAA for more than twenty years. Hare grew up in upstate New York and developed his passion for fishing and the ocean during summer vacations on Martha’s Vineyard. He spent the early part of his career in the Southeast working from North Carolina to Louisiana. He moved to Rhode Island in 2005, and finally found his way back to Cape Cod and his current job in 2016. He oversees science activities related to the NOAA Fisheries mission in the Northeast region including fisheries, aquaculture, wildlife protection, habitat conservation, and ecosystem science. He also works to build regional science collaborations to address complex issues including climate change, offshore wind development, and watershed science.

To register for this event, please follow the link below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vLuFyHqpRsStKbHZ4PmeuQ

To view the recordings from our Science Speaker Series lectures in Summer 2021, please follow the link below:

https://www.mariamitchell.org/science-speaker-series

This series is generously presented by our lead sponsor, Bank of America, and additional sponsors, Cape Air, Cisco Brewers, and White Elephant Resorts.

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

For Immediate Release

August 30, 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org