Sea Monsters from Classical Times to the Age of Exploration

Sea Monsters from Classical Times to the Age of Exploration

Thurs., 9/14 7-8 PM Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford) 

Sea monsters exert a powerful fascination and have done so for millennia. They provide an interesting cultural barometer from classical times through the Age of Exploration. This talk will describe different types of sea monsters and their historical context. Some examples from antique maps will be shown, particularly from the Carta Marina of 1539 from Olaus Magnus.

Glen Gawarkiewicz is a Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He is a physical oceanographer who works closely with the commercial fishing industry. His research focuses on processes that occur on the edge of the continental shelf where it abuts the deep ocean. He has been heavily involved in ocean observatories including science applications of robotic vehicles. He has also worked extensively on issues associated with ocean warming.