Join us for community learning!

Our Speaker Series consists of informational gatherings designed to spark discussions on topics relevant to our Cape Cod community and PBCB’s mission: boating, marine science, and environmental stewardship. The guest speakers and topics are varied and presentations are followed by a Q&A as we encourage guest participation. 

Each year we plan for 8-10 events that are a mix of virtual via zoom, hybrid (both on campus and via zoom), and in-person on our campus.  All are welcome to attend.  These events are offered free to the public, but contributions are accepted. We thank the Chatham and Orleans local councils, as well as the Mass Cultural Council for their support of this program.

    

Click here to access previously recorded talks and past line-ups!

Join us in person or via zoom. All attendees must register. 

Thursday March 13, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: The Lifecycle of an Oyster with Liv Woods, Massachusetts Oyster Project

The Massachusetts Oyster Project is a non-profit working to strengthen our coastal environment by restoring native shellfish populations to our beaches and coastal estuaries. Through oyster cultivation, shell recycling, education, and advocacy we can improve water quality, increase the diversity of sea life, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

About the speaker: Liv joined the Massachusetts Oyster Project (MOP) as Executive Director in May 2023. Liv brought 20 years of experience across a breadth of industries: healthcare, health insurance, hospital management, and academic organizations. In addition, she has been active in a range of consulting engagements with for-profit and non-profit organizations. Liv was employed previously by one of Boston’s largest health insurance companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, where for almost a decade, she was part of the strategic planning division and a member of the internal consulting group. Liv was Director of Fundraising and Operations with the American Amputee Soccer Association in her most recent role. Liv has a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and an M.B.A. from the Simmons School of Management.

Click here to register!

Thursday March 20, 2025 at 5 PM

Speaker Series: Eelgrass and Benthic Ecosystems of Pleasant Bay with Dr. Agnes Mittermayr, Center for Coastal Studies

Eelgrass beds are vital coastal ecosystems that support biodiversity, fisheries, and carbon storage, yet they are declining rapidly. In Cape Cod, over 3,500 acres of eelgrass have been lost since 1995, accounting for 63% of Massachusetts’ losses – the largest in New England. This decline is attributed to various stressors, including nutrient loading, climate change, and human activities. Projects to monitor and restore eelgrass beds are underway, particularly in Pleasant Bay, where eelgrass monitoring began decades ago, making it the third oldest SeagrassNet monitoring station in the world. Agnes will talk about the status of seagrasses on a global scale with a focus on the eelgrass beds and other benthic habitats in Pleasant Bay.

About the speaker: Dr. Agnes Mittermayr is a benthic ecologist at the Center for Coastal Studies. For the past 10 years she has researched biodiversity and food webs along the coasts of Cape Cod, creating benthic habitat maps, monitoring eelgrass and studying how the physical and chemical environment influences biological communities underwater. In 2023, Agnes became director of SeagrassNet, a global monitoring effort of seagrasses from South Korea to Brazil.

Click here to register!

Thursday April 10, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: The Other Pleasant Bay – Getting to Know our Winter Visitors with Walter McClennen

In this ninety-minute presentation, Walter will share the details of his 2016-2017 seven-month-long study of the winter birds visiting Pleasant Bay.  He will also share the many birding lessons he has learned through the last thirty years.  Twenty minutes at the end will be reserved for questions, comments and sharing of the favorite winter birding places and experiences of the participants. This talk is for birders of all levels, as well as those who might be thinking of getting into this very pleasing shore and inland activity. It is hoped that participants will leave with increased confidence that they can successfully enter in to this winter birding experience and enjoy Pleasant Bay in new ways in the coming years. 

About the guest speaker: In his early years, for Walter McClennen, Pleasant Bay was a place to sail, swim, windsurf and paddle board.  No time for birds in that distant past.  As retirement approached, he found himself spending more time in the “Three Towns” (PBCB) section of Pleasant Bay where he – as well as his parents and grandparents before him – had summered for decades.  He was struck by the beauty of the winter birds as they settled into the full length of the western bay shore in October and November.  As a result, binoculars became his ever-present companion as he walked the beach and marsh borders of the Bay. Walter McClennen is a retired educator and local author who focuses on primary-source-document history. His most recent book, Looking East – Short Histories and More, 2004-2023, has a significant chapter focusing on his seven-month recording of winter ducks and other birds visiting Pleasant Bay in the winter of 2016/17. The book (available on Amazon) will be available for purchase at the presentation.

Click here to register!

Thursday May 22, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Right Whale Ecology and the Technology to Understand It with Christy Hudak from the Center for Coastal Studies

The Center for Coastal Studies has been delving into the right whale ecology in Cape Cod Bay and surrounding waters since the early 1980’s.  While the research technology has changed over time, right whales continue to be a fascinating enigma when it comes to why and how they continue to find their food to survive. We will briefly touch on the multiple research projects we have going on in the Right Whale Ecology Program at the Center for Coastal Studies.

About the speaker: After gaining her Masters in marine science at Nova Southeastern University, Christy Hudak began her career on the Florida manatees. In 2011, Christy became a research associate in the Right Whale Ecology Program at the Center for Coastal Studies. Her main work focuses on the assessment of the zooplankton resource in Cape Cod Bay in terms of right whale habitat, behavior, and distribution trends. In addition, Christy collaborates with multiple organizations in the fields of statistical modeling, genetics (eDNA), acoustics, and microplastics involving multiple species including seals, Great Shearwaters, and right whales. Her eDNA research includes collaborating with Oregon State University in right whale eDNA detection since 2018, and with University of Maine in seal eDNA detection since 2020.

Click here to register!


Friday June 13, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Landscaping for Native Pollinators with Gary Bowden

Gary will explain how to adapt your current yard and gardens into a more habitat-friendly environment that will support our native pollinators year round. He will share insights about how to best garden on the Cape in light of our changing climate conditions. He will have tips on lawn and garden maintenance in all seasons. He also has great photos and tips on native plants–which plants will help the pollinators in all seasons, as well as which native plants will do best in shady and sunny yards.

About the speaker: Gary is a certified Master Gardener. As a member of the Master Gardeners of Cape Cod, he serves as Vice President. He was a founding member of the Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod, a collaborative of Cape non-profits and businesses supporting native plants and pollinator protection. He is a frequent lecturer on the benefits of native plants and Cape landscapes. Gary is also a Trustee with the Orleans Conservation Trust and is on Sipson Island Trust’s Land Management Committee.

Click here to register!

 

Past Events

Wednesday February 12, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Navigating by the Stars with Bob Sweet and Dick Moore

For centuries, mariners relied upon the stars to determine where they were.  With the introduction of GPS it was thought that celestial navigation was no longer needed – they were wrong.  The Naval Academy has reintroduced celestial navigation into its curriculum.  Whether you intend to use it or not, it is really interesting to know how it works and how truly effective it can be.

We will provide an overview of celestial navigation showing what tools are required and the process by which you can tell where you are by using the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Stars with a sextant, watch, nautical almanac and a calculator or computer.

Come join us and find out…

About the guest speaker: Bob Sweet is a Senior Navigator and author of “The Weekend Navigator,” “GPS for Mariners,” and dozens of other published marine books, guides, courses, and seminars.  He was formerly the National Educational Officer for the U.S. Power Squadrons, and is a frequent instructor for coastal and celestial navigation courses.


 

Thursday January 30, 2025 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Coastal Water Quality Stories: The power of data collected by citizen scientists with Sarah Griscom, PhD

For the past 25 years, the Towns surrounding Pleasant Bay and the south side of Chatham have successfully run an all-volunteer coastal water monitoring program. Some of the nutrient and dissolved oxygen data that has been collected by hundreds of citizens throughout the years will be presented. Attendees will learn about the significance and power of long-term data sets and will have the opportunity to handle the sampling equipment. 

More about the speaker: Sarah completed her BS in Earth and Marine Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz and worked as a Marine Geologist for the US Geological Survey. She completed her PhD in Coastal Oceanography, focusing on the cycling of radioactive contaminants in the coastal zone. For five years she was a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health and collaborated with the Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Security in France. The collaboration brought her family to France for a year. Sarah left research and taught undergraduate oceanography and high school sciences after she gained her Massachusetts’s teaching certificate in chemistry. She was hired by Pleasant Bay Community Boating to build an environmental science program to compliment the sailing program. The program evolved into the award-winning summer day-camp. Sarah presently works part-time with the Town of Chatham as a water quality scientist, volunteers on several committees, and is focused on finding solutions to adapting to future climate extremes. 


Wednesday November 20, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Awareness Inspires Conservation, an understanding of white shark research with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) is a nonprofit organization supporting scientific research, educating the community, and improving public safety. AWSC strives to increase knowledge of Atlantic white sharks to change public perception and conserve the species and ensure biologically diverse marine ecosystems. Join Kristen Smith, AWSC’s Community Engagement Manager, to learn more:

This program will provide an understanding of the ongoing white shark research projects being conducted and funded by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, how that research is impacting conservation and public safety efforts, as well as up to date information on what that research has taught us. Audience members will have an opportunity to view videos and photographs during the research season and develop their knowledge of what a shark is and what it takes to conduct white shark research.

About the guest speaker: Kristen Smith is the Community Engagement Manager at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing public awareness and understanding of white shark conservation. In her role, Kristen coordinates and manages a variety of initiatives, including educational programs, community outreach efforts, the college internship program, and social media campaigns. Kristen has been featured on platforms such as the Today Show, Channel 7 News Boston, and Good Morning America. These appearances highlight AWSC’s white shark ecotourism program and public safety initiatives related to white sharks.


Thursday November 7, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: No Refuge, Cape Cod’s Coastal Crisis

Join us to watch this 30-minute documentary film that explores the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Cod. The film examines the erosion of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham, and the broader changes in the Cape Cod Coastal region. Jan Crocker and Tim Wood are the producers of the film and will be giving a talk following the presentation, along with local Captain and fisherman Bill Amaru. Carole Ridley from Ridley & Associates rounds out the panel. Carole’s team leads the practice for Strategic Planning and Project Management for Natural Resource Restoration and Resilience, and Land Use and Smart Growth Strategies.


Wednesday September 25, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Bog Walk with Herb Heidt and Eliza McClennen

Guests enjoyed a guided tour of the Three Towns Cranberry Bog, just across the street from the PBCB campus. Local naturalist, Herb Heidt and Eliza McClennen, talked about the history of the commercial cranberry industry, and specifically the history of this bog–which does span 3 towns! Everyone enjoyed learning more about cranberry growing and harvesting, as well as the bog’s flora and fauna. The guided walking tour was followed by refreshments in the PBCB boathouse. 


Tuesday September 24, 2024 at 5:30 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Mushroom Identification Walk with Wesley Price

Guest speaker and local fungi enthusiast, Wesley Price, gave attendees a n informative presentation while sharing some local mushroom for identification, and lead a foraging walk with mushroom identification on the PBCB campus and nearby cranberry bog. Guests were encouraged to bring their own findings in for identification.

About the guest speaker: Wesley Price is an amateur mycologist (one who studies fungi), who founded the Cape Cod Mycological Society in 2013. He earned a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology. Wesley has led various talks and walks around Cape Cod and shares his passion for fungi to inspire a deeper understanding and respect for the ecosystems, which supports the biodiversity of life on Earth.


Thursday September 12, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Wampanoag Art for the Ages with Lee Roscoe

Guest speaker Lee Roscoe eagerly discussed her book, Wampanoag Art for the Ages, Traditional and Transitional. The book looks at the lifeway of the tribe which greeted the English at Plymouth, through its arts, starting in the wetu, including ancient arts of pottery, wampum, mat making, regalia, adornment — and more modern arts of painting and mixed media, featuring some of the foremost artisans of the tribe. She led a Q&A after the talk, and signed her book for those who purchased one.

About the guest speaker: Lee Roscoe is longtime freelance journalist, currently for Artscope and Provincetown magazines. She is the author of Wrap Yourself a Designer Dress; and of Dreaming Monomoy’s Past, Walking its Present (a subjective and objective look at the interacting nature and history of a typical coastal area) which is being revised  for republication under a grant from the Chatham Cultural Council.   She’s a   state commended environmentalist who’s a Woods Hole Ocean Science Journalism fellow.  A former Equity actress, Lee appeared off-Broadway and in independent films; theater is her first love. You  may have heard or seen some of her plays (occasionally supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council) such as The Mooncusser’s Tale, a Cape Cod radio drama or the play Impossible? about a tyrannical take over of America, and you can view on Vimeo, Dreams from a Planet in Peril, which she wrote and directed, with Janet Murphy Robertson as producer and filmographer. A piece of it premiered at the prestigious Chelsea Film Festival, NYC. Cape Cod Museum of Art’s director calls the film, “an important piece of art.”


Thursday September 5, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Pleasant Bay: A Focus of Environmental Stewardship with Dr. Robert A. Duncanson

Pleasant Bay is incredibly beautiful, environmentally significant, recreationally important, and provides many ecosystem services closely linked to our quality of life on Cape Cod. Dr. Duncanson will share the results of 24+ years of water quality data, discuss some of the key “take-aways”, and address how the future will present new challenges. Learn how many individuals, organizations and government entities support actions that help protect the health of this critical water body.

About the Guest Speaker: Robert A. Duncanson, Ph.D., is former Director of Health and Natural Resources for the Town of Chatham. Dr. Duncanson has a BS from the University of Miami and a Doctorate in Microbiology from the University of Rhode Island. In Chatham, he oversaw staff and programs in the areas of public health, conservation, environmental protection, coastal resources, harbormaster, and shellfish. He managed the Town’s 12-year Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning program completed in 2009, including integration of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP),and other scientific and engineering studies into the planning process. Dr. Duncanson managed construction of the Town’s new wastewater treatment facility, pump stations, and over 11 miles of new sewers as well as planning for future wastewater infrastructure projects. He was part of the restoration team that opened Muddy Creek estuary and built the new bridge on Route 28. Dr. Duncanson is currently working with the Chatham Conservation Foundation, MA DOT, Cape Cod Conservation District, Pleasant Bay Alliance, and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service on the issue of under-sized culverts impacting Frost Fish Creek.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Chatham Waterways. Current and prospective volunteers are invited to stay for an appreciation event after the lecture. Friends of Chatham Waterways was founded in 1983 as a non-profit organization committed to the protection, wise use and enjoyment of Chatham’s fresh and salt waterways and adjoining lands. Their purpose is to serve as an informational resource regarding the condition, development, preservation and enhancement of our waterways and adjoining lands, and to take action on these issues.

We also thank the Chatham and Orleans local councils, as well as the Mass Cultural Council for their support of the Speaker Series programs.

The event is free and open to the public. All attendees must register.


Monday July 29, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Marine Weather on Cape Cod

Thank you to guest speaker Dick Moore for entertaining a full crowd! Dick is a member of the Buzzards Bay Sail and Power Squadron (Founded in 1962) and teaches many of their classes to boaters across the country. Classes include Boat Handling, Navigation, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics, Communications, Weather and others.

About the guest speaker: Dick is a physicist who is one of the world wide experts in electrical contacts and switch technology. He is the chair of the International Electrotechnical Commission sub committee 23 J and a member of the Underwriter’s Laboratories standards technical panel which write standards for switches. Dick is the education officer for Buzzards Bay Sail and Power Squadron and the assistant education officer for United States Power Squadron district 34. He teaches classes in basic boating; seamanship; coastal navigation; offshore navigation; weather; marine electrical systems; marine communication systems; marine navigation systems; marine engine maintenance; and instructor qualification. He holds a USCG masters license and teaches on
water boat handling. Dick is also a motorcycle safety foundation nationally certified rider coach and teaches motorcycle safety and advanced skills classes in the Massachusetts Rider Education Program.


Friday April 19, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Navigation and Sea Stories Part 1

Please join us in Hillside meeting room to hear guest speaker Dale Harper talk all things Navigation. For those interested in taking it one step further, Part 2 will be a hands-on workshop on Saturday morning.

This event is free, includes refreshments, and is open to 40 participants. This can be a stand-alone event, you are not required to attend Part 2.

About the guest speaker: Dale grew up spending summers on Cape Cod learning to sail at the Orleans Yacht Club on Town Cove, as well as racing & cruising on Nantucket Sound with his aunt & uncle.  After graduating from High School in Wells, Maine, he went on to pursue a degree in Navigation from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Dale raced with the MMA sailing team, and other big boat sailing programs around Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. Upon graduation, he began working in the Commercial Shipping Industry Marine Transportation. Starting out on Tug Boats in New York Harbor as a deck hand, then a Mate. Dale was eager to get onboard larger ships and upgrade his USCG license. He then went on to the oil industry working as a Mate onboard 600’ Tankers.  After getting his Unlimited Tonnage Masters License, he began a 5-year training apprenticeship program with Northeast Marine Pilots and became a full Pilot in 2020. Dale still races sailboats and cruise for recreation and loves every moment spent on the water.


Saturday April 20, 2024 from 10 AM to 1 PM ($30)

Workshop: Small Boat Navigation of Pleasant Bay and Beyond Part 2

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the hands-on navigation workshop with the pros and learn to read charts, chart your own course using wind, tide and time.


Thursday March 28, 2024 at 5 PM (Free)

Speaker Series: Community-Based Collaborative Fisheries Research; Cape Cod Fishermen and Scientists Studying the Ocean Together

Thank you to Owen Nichols for the informational talk on how local fishermen and shellfish farmers in the area are working with scientists to understand the effects of environmental change and human activity on marine habitat, collecting vital data for sustainable fisheries management while building community.

About the guest speaker: Owen Nichols is Director of Marine Fisheries Research at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he conducts research in collaboration with Cape Cod fishermen and shellfish farmers. His primary interests include distributional ecology, fisheries oceanography, marine mammal/fishery interactions, and ecosystem-based fishery management. Owen is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology, a guest investigator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts – Boston, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the Shoals Marine Laboratory.