Dive into our region’s vibrant undersea gardens and discover the incredible habitats that support diverse communities of seaweeds and marine life.
From colorful coastal tide pools to the depths of the Monterey Canyon, marine ecologist Dr. Connor will share stories, research, and insights from a range of ocean environments right here along the Central Coast. Whether you’re a longtime ocean lover or just curious about what exists beneath the surface, this talk will offer a fascinating glimpse into the hidden ecosystems just off our shores.
Register HERE
Ticket Price: $12 Adult, $8 Students
Discounts: $5 member discount
Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
About the Speaker:
Judith Connor began her underwater career conducting research at the Smithsonian Institution Natural History Museum. She earned her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley with research on reefs off the coast of Panama. Connor has explored the world ocean on expeditions off the coasts of all continents, using robotic and womaned-submersibles, diving under 20 feet of Antarctic ice and in blissful tropical seas, even working from an underwater habitat in the Caribbean. A highlight of her career was teaching marine botany at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. After three decades of discovery and innovation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), she enjoys retirement and supporting conservation at the Elkhorn Slough Foundation and the California Native Plant Society.
