Starting June 11, 2025
Wednesdays: 11:00 AM
Aquarium of the Bay: LECTURE SERIES
Exciting news! Aquarium of the Bay is proud to announce the return of our marine life and conservation themed Lecture Series!
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Starts June 11, 2025 • Wednesdays: 11:00 AM – 12:00 pm
JUNE 11
From DNA to Deckhands:
Working with Fishers to Protect Endangered Manta Rays
SPEAKER:
Melissa Cronin, PhD
Melissa Cronin is a marine ecologist and writer. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University, where her research explores the conservation and food security impacts of interactions between large- and small-scale fisheries, using interdisciplinary methods from ecology, policy, and the social sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, where she studied the effects of industrial fishing on biodiversity, with a focus on manta and devil rays. Her work led to the co-founding of Mobula Conservation, a nonprofit focused on the protection of manta and devil rays in the Eastern Pacific.
JUNE 25
Sharks Up Close:
Inside the Work of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
SPEAKER:
Kristen Smith
Outreach and Social Media Manager for Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
Dive into the world of great white shark research with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC), as they share discoveries, highlight the importance of shark conservation, and reveal how science is shaping public safety and shark awareness off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
JULY 6
Minorities in Shark Sciences Draw-Along
SPEAKERS:
A-bel Gong and Jacquie Rajerison
Join Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) members and self-proclaimed MISS artist extraordinaires A-bel Gong and Jacquie Rajerison in an interactive talk and shark draw-along.
JULY 23
BEHIND THE BARK:
with The Marine Mammal Center
SPEAKER:
Laura Gill
In “Behind the Bark”, The Marine Mammal Center will cover a brief history of their work with rescue, rehabilitation, release, research, and education and then take a deeper dive into the story of our common patients such as the California sea lion, Northern elephant seal, and Pacific harbor seal. They will describe the challenges they face due to changing ocean conditions, how they are cared for at the Center, and how people can get involved to protect them and our shared ocean environment.
AUGUST 6
How to Draw an Octopus:
Working with Fishers to Protect Endangered Manta Rays
SPEAKER:
SS Julian, Author of Octopolis
Cartoonist and Aquarium dive volunteer SS Julian will share his journey creating the marine-biology graphic novel Octopolis and teach all attendees how to draw their very own biologically accurate cartoon octopus! Attendees will learn little-known facts about these delightful invertebrates, and discover how drawing is an vital exercise in empathy and environmental awareness.
Upcoming Speakers
- June 11: Melissa Cronin
Marine Conservation Scientist and Writer. - June 25: Kristen Smith
Outreach and Social Media Manager for Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. - July 9: A-bel Gong and Jacquie Rajerison
Members of Minorities in Shark Science (MISS). - July 23: Laura Gill
Public Programs Manager for The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC). - August 6: SS Julian, Author of Octopolis
Policies
Payment Policy:
- Pay 50% of the booking at the time of reservation.
- You will be automatically charged for the remaining balance 7 days before the event. We will charge the same card used in checkout.
- Final headcount is due 7 days prior to the event.
Cancellation Policy:
- The initial payment is non-refundable, regardless of cancellation time.
- Deposit can be transferred to new date based on availability.
Contact us
- [email protected]
- 415.623.5326
Party Room
Located adjacent to the adorable romping River Otters, the Farallon Event space offers a brightly lit room for kids to enjoy activities, augmented reality screen, animal encounters, and more!
Under the Sea Party
Under the Sea Party & Feed the Sharks
Your party will get a live interactive experience with our naturalist. Virtually feed the sharks. Explore the multi-colored rockfish of our nearshore kelp forest, go behind the scenes to learn about the Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker babies we raise at the Aquarium, and journey beneath the waves in our Draper Startup Shark Tunnel. How do jellies? Why are anemones so slimy? Is it true that some corals can live hundreds of years? Go behind the scenes to learn about the lifecycle of the jellies, corals, and anemones we raise on-site.
Ages 8 to 17
Your party will enjoy unlimited access to the aquarium between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm, allowing everyone to explore all the attractions at their own pace. When it’s time to settle down, your party will have access to two hours in the aquarium party room to enjoy cupcakes.
Explore behind-the-scenes and become Aquarium insiders with the Feed the Sharks Tour, where the guest of honor and four guests will get a bucket of seafood to feed to sharks, rays, skates, and other fishes in the Aquarium’s 350,000-gallon Offshore Tunnel exhibit.
Members
- $400
- Up to 20 guests
- $5 per additional guest: (Limit 50 guests total)
Non-Members
- $500
- Up to 20 guests
- $10 per additional guest: (Limit 50 guests total)
Members
- $920
- Up to 20 guests
- $30 per additional guest: (limit 30 guests total)
Non-Members
- $1,000
- Up to 20 guests
- $35 per additional guest: (limit 30 guests total)
Members
- $400
- Up to 20 guests
- $5 per additional guest: (Limit 50 guests total)
Non-Members
- $500
- Up to 20 guests
- $10 per additional guest: (Limit 50 guests total)
Your party will get a live interactive experience with our naturalist. Like humans, some animals are so smart they need puzzles and games to stay healthy and happy. Learn about our smartest species and go behind the scenes to see how we keep them entertained!
Go beyond the “Staff Only” signs and see what it takes to run an Aquarium. Explore the life sustaining pumps and systems that keep over 700,000 gallons of water filtering and moving through our tanks every day. Find out how many freezers it takes to feed over 10,000 marine animals per week, and how we provide healthcare for our animals. Along the way, learn about the conservation efforts and shark research at the core of our institution.
