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Recent Waterman Lecture Series
Dean Weldon, President and CEO of Academy Studios
“The Making of an Exhibit”
Thursday, April 29th
Doors open at 6:30 pm, lecture begins at 7:00 pm
With over 30 years as a museum professional, Dean’s vision is to provide distinctive, high quality, exhibition design and fabrication services. Collaborating with artists, designers, curators, educators, architects and other professionals in the field, his ability to lead and participate in diverse teams has lead to the development of an impressive body of work that embodies the paradigm shifts in the field regarding the way institutions think about and approach their visitor experiences. His client list includes: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the California Academy of Sciences and now the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for our upcoming ocean exploration exhibit: Sea of Adventure. Join us for a sneak peak of what’s coming your way this summer!
David Grant
"Captain James Cook: The Extraordinary First Voyage of the Endeavour"
Thursday, March 25th
Doors open at 6:30 pm, lecture begins at 7:00 pm
Captain James Cook, son of a Yorkshire farmer, was the most famous navigator of his time - both discovering and charting accurately coastlines from the Artic to the Antarctic, and the east coast of Australia to the west coast of North America. Cook made three voyages, each distinct in character, each a test and a triumph but not without tragedy. Join us as Mr. Grant brings to life the first of Cook’s journeys aboard the HMS Endeavour. Mr. Grant is the former president of Orange Coast College and served as president of the Orange Coast College Foundation. He is an historian and storyteller who enjoys long-distance sailing and mountain climbing, and has served as the coach of the Orange Coast College rowing team for most of his adult life.
Dava Sobel: Longitude
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Doors open at 6:30 pm; lecture starts at 7 pm.
Reception With the Author
Join us for a reception with the author from 5:30 - 6:30 pm at the Balboa Grand Ballroom. Light appetizers will be served in addition to a hosted bar with wine and non-alcoholic drinks. Reception tickets are $25 per person and must be paid in advance. To RSVP and purchase reception tickets, please call us at 949-675-8915.
About the Lecture
Journey back to the days before GPS, when the determination of longitude was a difficult (if not impossible) task--and a matter of life or death. As soon as sailors lost sight of land, they lost track of their longitude, often with disastrous results.
All through the Great Age of Exploration, the likes of Columbus and Balboa struggled to figure out exactly where they were, but could never be certain. Some of the most well known scientists, including Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton, worked on the longitude problem, but without success. Although the idea of using a timekeeper was suggested as early as the 1500s, more than two hundred years would pass before someone developed a timekeeper accurate enough to meet the challenge. That someone was a self-educated clockmaker, John Harrison, who came out of the north of England to achieve what the entire scientific establishment of Europe had failed to provide--a solution to the longitude problem.
Dava Sobel is the New York Times Bestselling author of Longitude and Galileo’s Daughter. In her thirty years as a science journalist she has written for many magazines, including Audubon, Discover, Life and The New Yorker. She has also served as a contributing editor to Harvard Magazine and Omni and co-authored five books.
Ms. Sobel will be signing copies of Longitude on the night of the lecture (Longitude will be available for purchase).
Join us for a ticketed pre-reception with the author before the lecture. More information to follow.
Serge Dedina: Conservation in Baja CA and the Sea of Cortez
Thursday, Jan 14, 2010
Doors open at 6:30pm, lecture starts at 7pm
Baja California and the Sea of Cortez contain some of the world’s most ecologically important coastal, marine and desert wildlife habitats and stunningly beautiful coastal landscapes. However, over the past decade the “Baja Boom” had a significant impact on the region’s biodiversity and unique natural habitats. Serge Dedina, the Executive Director of WiLDCOAST who received the California Coastal Commission 2009 “Coastal Hero” Award, has spent the last two decades working to conserve the best of Baja and the Sea of Cortez. In this lecture, he discusses the challenges and opportunities in preserving what Jacques Cousteau once called the “World’s Aquarium” and a Baja California peninsula that today is still a wild reminder of what California once was.
Gregg Dietrich: Maritime Art
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Join Gregg Dietrich from Maritime Art Consulting and Appraisals as he guides the audience to a better understanding of art with a focus on Maritime Art. Mr. Dietrich will examine the creation and evolution of maritime painting in the Dutch and English schools, sailor’s crafts, and the development and use of ship models with a focus on the Museum’s collection.
Mr. Dietrich comes naturally to his position as one of the top maritime art and history specialists in the world. With a background as a collector, art historian and world-class sailing competitor with over 25 years in the appraisal business, he has developed a reputation as one of the foremost specialists in this unique field.
Craig B. Smith: "Lightning: Fire from the Sky"
Thursday, November 12, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Dr. Smith, an electrical engineer, brings the complex physics of lightning strikes alive in a graphic but non-technical way. In his lecture, he describes lightning strikes, different forms of lightning and the effects of electricity on the human body. In addition, he discusses the effects of lightning on property, specifically boats. Learn about new developments in research, lightning prediction and prevention.
Smith has over 40 years of engineering experience. Of his many accomplishments, he was an assistant professor at UCLA, co founded ANCO Engineers and became the president of DMJM Holmes and Narver, Inc.
The lecture is based on his recent book, Lightning: Fire from the Sky, which will be available for purchase.
Orange County Coastkeeper, Ray Hiemstra: "Marine Protected Areas in Orange County"
Thursday, October 22, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Ray Hiemstra is the Associate Director at Orange County Coastkeeper where he runs a variety of research and advocacy programs related to water quality. Ray was also a member of the Marine Life Protection Act’s South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group where he combined his environmental and recreational fishing experience to help develop a set of Marine Protected Areas for Orange County. Ray’s presentation will focus on the three options for Marine Protected Areas for Orange County developed by the Regional Stakeholder Group and how each option will affect the environment and sportfishing in Orange County. He will also be presenting the latest decisions on Orange County Marine Protected areas from meetings held on October 20th through the 22nd.
Professor Orrin Pilkey: "Rising Seas and Shifting Shores"
Thursday, September 24, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 pm
In response to global warming, the world’s oceans are rising at a current rate of a bit less than 1.5 feet per century. In the 21st century it is anticipated that the melting of the world’s ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica will be the main drivers of the sea level rise and that the melting will accelerate. Most specialists agree that we can expect a minimum of 3 feet rise by the year 2100 with levels as high as 7 feet a real possibility. The most vulnerable areas are the world’s big river deltas such as the Mississippi, the Niger, and the Nile. A 3 foot rise will halt development along America’s 3,500 mile long barrier island shorelines of the east and Gulf Coasts. On the Pacific Coast, margins of cities will be impacted as will storm water runoff systems and ports and harbors and shoreline erosion rates will increase dramatically. This is a global catastrophe waiting to happen but planning now could help our grandchildren cope with the crisis.
Orrin Pilkey is a James B. Duke professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at The Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University
Coauthor (with Rob Young) of the just-released The Rising Sea (Island Press) and author/coauthor coeditor of the 22 volume state by state Living with the Shore book series.
Copies of The Rising Sea will be available for purchase the night of the lecture only.
John Jourdane: "Navigating the World's Oceans"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Balboa Pavilion
John Jourdane is one of the most experienced yachtsmen in the world today. He has sailed over 300,000 miles, including 49 Pacific Ocean crossings, 12 Atlantic crossings, and 3 circumnavigations, including 2 Whitbread "Round the World Races". He is the author of 2 books, Icebergs, Port and Starboard, and Sailing With Scoundrels and Kings. This summer, in the Transpac Yacht Race, John will be making his 50th crossing between the West Coast U.S. and Hawaii.
This lecture is free, but SPACE IS LIMITED - make your reservation today
Conrad E. Palmisano: "The Sea in the Movies"
Thursday, April 23, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Pavilion
Conrad is the most sought after stunt coordinator in Hollywood, with scores of top films to his credit. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.
Water related stunts: X-Men: The Last Stand; Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Peter Pan; JAG; Lethal Weapon 4; The Love Boat: the Next Wave; Free Willy 2; The Marine; Hook; MacGyver; Alligator; and Piranha among many other titles. Other stunts: Batman Forever; Magnum P.I; Charlie’s Angels; Flashdance; Dallas; Battlestar Galactica
Dr. Catherine Williamson:
"Collecting Maritime Art"
Thursday, March 26, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Pavilion
Dr. Catherine Williamson is a Senior Specialist and Director of the Fine Books and Manuscripts department at Bonhams & Butterfields. Her areas of expertise include printed books and manuscripts, vintage photography, and entertainment memorabilia.
During her tenure at Bonhams & Butterfields, Dr. Williamson has appraised, researched, and sold such high profile property as a rare manuscript notebook of George Gershwin’s from 1929-1931; the Private World of Truman Capote; The Lloyd Ostendorf Collection of Lincolniana; and the Louis Leithold Collection of Vintage Hollywood Posters.
Dr. Williamson has appeared in over 20 episodes of the HGTV series Appraise It! as well as on The Early Show, Good Morning America, The Hunt for Amazing Treasures, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and Fox News. Currently she is in her sixth season as an appraiser on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow. She has also appeared in pilots for Ebay TV, and a U.S. version of Cash in the Attic.
SOLD OUT!!!
David Grant: "A Visual History of Sailing Ships and Those Adventurers Who Sailed Them"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Pavilion
You can view a short excerpt from David's lecture. If you would like to see the complete lecture, please contact the Museum.
For the first time ever, our most successful speaker will be offering a talk on his research on sailing ships. President Emeritus of Orange Coast College. He has competed many times in the Henley Royal Regatta.
SOLD OUT!!!
Professor Brian Fagan: "The Great Warming - Land, Oceans & the Story of the Silent Elephant in the Room"
Thursday, January 22, 2009
An engaging speaker and author of "The Great Warming". Brian is an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at UCSB.
Prof. Fagan is an archaeological consultant for many organizations, including National Geographic Society, and Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 1996, he was awarded the Society of Professional Archaeologists’ Distinguished Service Award. He has also received a Presidential Citation Award and a Public Education Award.
SOLD OUT!!!
Bryant Austin: "Whales"
Thursday, December 4, 2008
You can view a short excerpt from Bryant's lecture. If you would like to see the complete lecture, please contact the Museum.
Bryant Austin is the only person in the world working to compose high resolution life-size photographs of whales. He was the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society’s guest speakers at this year’s Volvo Ocean Race.
His work is entirely dependent upon whales who initiate close inspections of him less than three meters away. “The pivotal impact I seek is to upset the abstractness of whales; my aim is to make them real.”
Media Reports
From the "Daily Pilot": Austin will travel for at least 14 months with an exhibit of his large photographs of whales to whaling nations, including Norway and Japan. Read the full story.
Lecture Archives
- September 17, 2008 - "Impressionist Painters of California", Mr. Jean Stern, Executive Director, The Irvine Museum
- November 25, 2007 - "Transpac 2007" with Rob Vandervoort and Mike Nash
- November 8, 2007 - "Humback Whales: A High Definition Perspective" by Jason Sturgis
- October 4, 2007 - "Cape Horn" with Dave Grant
- June 14, 2007 - "Transpac 2007: The Inside Look at this Summer's Great Race to Hawaii" by Brad Avery
- May 17, 2007 - "The History of Big Game Fishing" by Mike Rivkin
- April 26, 2007 - "Extreme Waves" by Dr. Craig B. Smith
- April 12, 2007 - "Cape Horn" by Dave Grant
- November 9, 2006 -- "Magellan: the Vision, the Audacity,
and the Tragedy of the First Voyage Around the World" by Dave Grant
- November 5, 2006-- "Extreme Waves" by Dr. Craig B. Smith
- October 19, 2006 - "Recent Changes in Yacht Design" by Alan Andrews
- April 6, 2006 - "Yacht Design 2006" by Alan Andrews
- March 30, 2006 - "Transpac 2005" by Doug Gardner
- March 23, 2006 - “Aurora and the Shackleton Expedition: The Stirring Story of Life and Death on the Far Side of Antarctica” by Dave Grant
- February 7, 2006 - “Aurora and the Shackleton Expedition: The Stirring Story of Life and Death on the Far Side of Antarctica” by Dave Grant
- January 31, 2006 - “The Remarkable Tale of Ernest Shackleton
and the Transantarctic Expedition 1914-1917” by Dave Grant
- October 5 & November 2, 2005 - "Antarctica: Adventure, Adversity and Adaptation" by Nancy Caruso
- October 6, 2005 - “Echoes in the Ice” Artist’s Lecture by Rik Van Glintenkamp
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