The psychology of sharks, the fastest man on water, and chasing sea monsters:
Maritime Museum launches new talk series
For the love of oceans! The Australian National Maritime Museum is launching an exciting new monthly talk series in 2019, , with a range of fascinating marine experts who will challenge everything you know about the depths (and shallows) of earth’s oceans.
This new series of talks offers a unique opportunity to immerse in the cutting edge of marine science, provocative art, and the latest in thought leadership – all up close and personal.
The first in a series of nine, on 7 February will see two of Australia’s leading shark experts – diver and conservationist Valerie Taylor and neuroscientist and neuropsychologist Dr Richard Gates – discuss how sharks’ brains work and some unique insight into shark behaviour.
Internationally renowned filmmakers Sally Aitken and Bettina Dalton will also be screening exclusive excerpts from their upcoming biopic on Valerie – The Real Jaws, which charts the diving legend’s life over 5 decades.
The evening will take a deep dive into how attitudes towards sharks have evolved over time, why Valerie evolved from shark hunter to shark lover and what the future is for sharks in our oceans. Many people have said what Jane Goodall is to chimps, Valerie is to sharks.
This fascinating evening will be hosted by the maritime museum’s Daina Fletcher, curator of contemporary Chinese art exhibition On Sharks and Humanity and includes exclusive access to the exhibition and light refreshments. The highly acclaimed exhibition provokes thought on global shark conservation as well as the unique ecological issues facing Australia of our own endangered shark species.
“Our oceans really are sitting at a critical point in history right now, and the Museum has never had a more vital role in marine conservation, exploration and sharing the wonder and mystery of our oceans,”
