Explore the science happening around Santa Cruz
Natural Bridges Migration Festival
Natural Bridges State Beach hosts overwintering monarch butterflies each year, and a number of other migrating animals also pass through the area. On Saturday, Feb. 13, the park will throw a virtual migration festival to celebrate migratory animals like elephant seals, whales and sooty shearwaters. The event starts at 12:15pm on the Natural Bridges State Beach official Facebook page.
Younger Lagoon Virtual Tour
Learn about the plants and animals that call our local wetlands home in a virtual tour of Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve. In this free online excursion, a UCSC student guides users through the 72-acre environment, pointing out everything from bobcat tracks to marsh plants like pickleweed. The tour is available anytime in English and Spanish.
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Talks
In addition to posting virtual exhibits, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History offers free online seminars and discussions that cover topics like geology and mycology.
Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Vlogs
The elephant seal rookery at Año Nuevo State Park closed its gates to visitors, but curious nature-lovers can still spy on the blubbery mammals through video blogs. Becoming a “Seal Fan” on the park’s Patreon costs $7 per month and unlocks the weekly updates.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Seminars
Explore the deep sea through virtual seminars at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. These weekly talks feature oceanographers, biologists and engineers at the cutting edge of marine science. The events are free and open to the public through the MBARI website. For K-12 audiences, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers free virtual courses in English and Spanish about topics like plastic pollution and shark diversity.
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Seminars
San Jose State University hosts free weekly seminars at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Each Thursday from 4-5pm, marine scientists from around the country talk about ocean research in a livestream. MLML records and archives each video on their website.
UCSC Online Lectures
Dive into the science of seed starting or the workings of vaccines with UCSC virtual lectures. A variety of online talks, hosted by UCSC professors and lecturers, are free and open to the public.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center Virtual Expeditions
A new program called “Scientists Saving the Oceans” takes visitors behind the scenes at the UCSC Long Marine Laboratory. In six 90-minute zoom classes, participants livestream with animals and researchers to learn how and why scientists study marine life. The expeditions start on Feb. 8 and take place Mondays and Wednesdays during February. Spots are limited to 20 registered guests.
