December 6, 2022, by admin

Sitka WhaleFest returned in person in November to explore this year’s theme of “How It’s Made: Courting, Babies, and Growth.” We were thrilled to welcome 28 undergraduate students, over 100 high school students from throughout Southeast Alaska, and over 500 attendees from all over the country. Sitka WhaleFest hosted nine scientists who gave this year’s symposium talks on topics ranging from albatross to food sovereignty. The scientists were Crissy Huffard (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), Joanie Van de Walle (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), Joana Augusto (Let’s Talk Science), Dara Orbach (Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi), Desiree Jackson (Goldbelt Heritage Foundation), Amy Bishop (University of Alaska Anchorage), Schery Umanzor (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Andy Szabo (Alaska Whale Foundation), and the Science Center’s very own Matt Wilson, whose lecture on jellyfish reproduction was a crowd favorite. On-demand recordings are available here.

2022 experimented with a balance of old and new traditions. New to the roster of events was a Marine Trivia Night for adults at Mean Queen. The Student Photography Contest also made its debut: middle and high school students from Southeast Alaska submitted nature photographs for the chance to be featured in the 2023 SSSC calendar. After the successful launch of Adult Workshops in 2021, it’s clear that they are here to stay. This year the workshops included the Marine Mammal Mashup (an exploration of marine mammals’ adaptations to cold water as compared to the equipment used by SCUBA divers), Snorkel and Sauna, data visualization for weather patterns with Oregon State University, and a marine mammal necropsy. There were plenty of other opportunities for people of all backgrounds to bump elbows: Scientists and community members gathered to enjoy all manner of performing arts at the Maritime Grind and got to know each other at the Marine Mingle reception. Athletes and whale enthusiasts pounded the pavement at the annual WhaleFest Run.

Sitka WhaleFest brings people together from all corners of our small community and our vast country. It is a program of the Sitka Sound Science Center, made possible by the incredible sponsors, donors, volunteers, and staff members that dedicate their time and resources to celebrating science. Our sponsors are North Pacific Research Board, Alaska Airlines, Saltchuck Family Foundation, American Queen, Sitka Salmon Shares, Alaska EPSCoR, Visit Sitka, Sitka Rotary, Sitka Sound Tours, and Allen Marine.

Photos by Bobbi Jordan.