Press Releases

'MAN & WHALES' LECTURE TO FOCUS ON GULD OIL SPILL, MARCH 16

(NEW BEDFORD, MA) – Man and Whales: Changing Views Through Time, a free public lecture series continues at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater with a pre-lecture reception in the Jacobs Family Gallery at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The lecture titled, “The Gulf of Mexico: Spilling Crude Oil Where We Once Spilled Sperm Oil,” is presented by Judy N. Lund and Deborah Cramer.

New Bedford has a deep-rooted connection to the one large ocean that covers more than 70% of our planet. Tonight we will examine our historic link to one place in our marine environment and how the continued quest for oil has impacted this region.

Judith N. Lund, former Curator, New Bedford Whaling Museum, will provide us with a historical overview of whaling in the Gulf of Mexico, an endeavor that until recently was not well documented. Using her soon-to-be-published paper as the foundation, Judy will explain how this smaller whale fishery fit in with the larger Atlantic whale fishery. Her most recent works includes a definitive two-volume reference, American Offshore Whaling Voyages, 1667-1927, published by the Old Dartmouth Historical Society – New Bedford Whaling Museum in 2010.

Deborah Cramer, Visiting Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will explore the short term impact of the BP oil spill and the longer term consequence of oil drilling and shipping on the marshes of southeastern Louisiana and the wider Gulf, sharing her recent visit there and showing stunning photographs from her book, Smithsonian Ocean: Our Water Our World.

Both speakers will be available to sign their books at the pre-lecture reception.

Man & Whales lecture series will continue on April 20 and May 18.
As a finale to the lectures, the Whaling Museum is offering a unique opportunity to meet whales on Saturday, May 21. A special whale watch trip is available in partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, departing from the Whaling Museum at 8:00 a.m. to Capt. John Boats, Plymouth, MA. Tickets are $75 per person, payable in advance, and includes roundtrip transportation. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Proceeds will benefit the Whaling Museum and WDCS. Please call 508-997-0046 ext.100, to RSVP for the free lectures and/or sign up for the whale watch.

Man & Whales is sponsored by ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations) a program administered by the U.S. Dept. of Education. Offered in partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world's most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales and whaling. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city's historic downtown and is open daily. For a complete calendar of events, visit the Whaling Museum online at www.whalingmuseum.org. Join the Museum's online community at flickr.com, facebook.com, Twitter, and blog at www.whalingmuseumblog.org.