Lecture Series
JOIN US AT THE RIVER CENTER FOR OUR MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES
The first Friday of each month we have a Noon Lecture from 12pm – 1pm
The third Friday of each month we have an Evening Lecture from 6pm – 7pm
Registration is required to attend.
This event is not for children. Ages 16+ are welcome to attend.
March
NOON LECTURE
Restoring The Indian River Lagoon: Can We Go Back In Time?
Friday, March 6th , 2026 | 12pm – 1pm
Speaker: Christopher Moore, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Florida
Christopher Moore is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida in Gainesville. From 2022-2024, he worked as a postdoc at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the Indian River Lagoon, an estuary with a rich and complex environmental history. Humans have inhabited the IRL for thousands of years. What do we mean when we say we want to restore it? Restore what? From when? Should we bring back the giant ground sloth?
EVENING LECTURE
Rebuilding the Reef: Florida’s Corals & a Future Worth Saving
Friday, March 20th , 2026 | 6pm – 7pm
Speaker: Leneita Fix, Executive Director of The Reef Institute
Leneita Fix is the founding leader and Executive Director of The Reef Institute, a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring coral reefs through science, education, and community partnership. Under her leadership, the organization has become a regional and Caribbean-wide resource for coral conservation—connecting advanced ex situ coral care with sustainable, community-driven restoration models.
April
NOON LECTURE
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Museum – Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Historical Society
Friday, Apri 3rd, 2026 | 12pm – 1pm
Speaker: Josh Liller, Historian and Collections Manager for the Loxahatchee River Historical Society
Josh Liller has been the Historian and Collections Manager for the Loxahatchee River Historical Society for the last decade. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University, he is the co-author of Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee (Revised Edition), editor of The Florida Lighthouse Trail 2nd Edition, and editor-author of the LRHS Quarterly local history newsletter.
EVENING LECTURE
Schoolyard Films
Friday, April 17th , 2026 | 6pm – 7pm
Speaker: Tom Fitz, Executive Director of Schoolyard Films
Tom Fitz is a multiple Emmy Award winning cameraman whose work has been broadcast by PBS, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, ABC, NHK, Tokyo Broadcasting, and others. His programs have also been displayed in museums (including the Smithsonian, in Washington D.C.) and in other non-broadcast venues. Tom has over 35 years of experience in natural history camerawork, and his projects have taken him all over the world. In 2004 Tom began producing his own films too, earning numerous awards, and in 2008, with Karina Fitz, he co-founded Schoolyard Films with a mission to educate and inspire, while promoting good stewardship of the planet. In 2021, Tom was inducted into the “Florida Artist’s Hall of Fame,” a very exclusive honor. And in 2023, Tom shifted his work to follow his growing passion for environmental education. He now devotes himself full-time to Schoolyard Films, trying to save the world… one film at a time.
May
NOON LECTURE
Is Seaweed a New Aquaculture Product for Florida?
Friday, May 1st , 2026 | 12pm – 1pm
Speaker: Gabrielle Foursa, PhD, Students at UF
There are over 600 species of macroalgae (seaweed) in Florida, and they are exceptionally diverse in shape, size, color, and function. Seaweeds are being researched globally for both their wide-ranging commercial applications and for the ecosystem services they provide. Interest, support, and infrastructure for commercial seaweed farming has gained momentum in the US over the last 15 years. Researchers, industry, and conservation organizations have been drawn to the ability of seaweeds to provide a product or solution while being a sustainable, even regenerative crop. In this talk, we’ll explain what seaweed aquaculture is, explore what seaweeds are native to Florida, and discuss potential uses.