Speaker:  Dr. Catherine Macdonald

Directed by Dr. Catherine Macdonald, the Predator Ecology Lab and Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) at the University of Miami conducts science centered broadly on food-web dynamics and the behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and movement ecology of marine predators. Shark tags allow scientists to study everything from the growth to the migratory and residency patterns of sharks. This data can be used to identify areas that are critical for shark mating, pupping, and feeding, as well as locations where sharks are vulnerable to fishing. Better data can help policymakers implement effective management strategies that will improve conservation for threatened shark species!

Speaker: Chris Wilhelm, PhD.

Grass-roots activists, scientists, fishers, and politicians fought throughout the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s to protect marine waters up and down the east and west coasts of Florida.  Their work brought into existence national and state parks, aquatic preserves, research areas, and wildlife refuges. 

Join environmental historian Chris Wilhelm as he recounts one of Florida's most important and unknown environmental stories: The Fight for Florida's Waters. 

Speaker: Mindy Dickman, Author

The Everglades is home to over 300 species of birds, 39 of which are federally listed as threatened, endangered, or are candidates for a listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. 

Join author Mindy Dickman as she gives a brief overview of past and present conservation stories of these species, followed by a discussion about the needs of birds that live in and migrate to Florida.

Speaker: Begoñe Cazalis, Director of Communications, The Everglades Foundation.

The Everglades is a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that provides us with numerous benefits and resources. But the once free-flowing River of Grass has been drained and compartmentalized to give way to farming and urban development. These alterations continue to impact our environment and threaten our sustainability. 

Speaker: Speaker: Troy Mckalla, Wildlife Education and Intake Associate at PHSS, and Dr. Ray “Cobraman” Hunter, Herpetologist and Venom Production Expert

Join PHSS as we dive into Florida's 5 venomous snake species,wrapping up with an overview of the art of venom milking (extracting venom from snakes for the purpose of creating anti-venom or for medical research) with special guest Dr. Ray “Cobraman” Hunter.

Speaker: Brian Rapoza

Join Tropical Audubon’s Brian Rapoza, who will describe ways that ordinary citizens can get involved in this initiative, including volunteering to collect bird collision data in their neighborhood or implementing window collision reduction strategies at home.

Speaker: Liv Williamson, Ph.D.

Join Liv Williamson to learn more about the work X-REEFS ("neXt generation Reef Engineering to Enhance Future Structures") is doing in developing hybrid reefs that combine the wave-protection benefits of artificial structures with the ecological benefits of coral reefs.

Speaker: Mike Lloret, Wildlife Biologist

Join wildlife biologist Mike Lloret as he shows you the challenges crocs face today and what is being done to continue to improve their habitat for future generations to come.

Speaker: Dennis J. Giardina, Everglades Region Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), member of both the U.S. National Park Service and FWC Panther Capture Teams

Join us and learn more about the techniques used to capture wild Florida panthers in the Everglades Ecoregion to monitor the health of the last remaining population of Pumas east of the Mississippi River

Speaker: Richard Kern, Natural history filmmaker

Join us for a live narration of "The Siren and the Springs”.

Speaker: Paul Kragh, Director of Burrowing Owl Conservation for Project Perch Inc.

Once distributed broadly throughout Florida and western North America, the Burrowing Owl has found itself declining in numbers throughout its historic range. Learn how Project Perch helps to protect these tiny subterranean owls by finding and educating “caretakers” for owls, counting the owls annually during the breeding season, and working with landowners to provide artificial burrows and nest boxes.