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Talks and Workshops

Nat Talks, made possible with support from presenting sponsor The Downing Family Foundation and media partner KPBS, feature museum staff and outside experts speaking on an array of topics, including the latest in scientific research, history, conservation, and the natural world.

Upcoming Events


For the Record: A Community Conversation About Nature in the U.S

Thursday, May 14, 2026 6:30 PM

The Nat is teaming up with The Nature Record for a free public event—and we want you to be part of it.

We live a life that’s constantly connected to nature, so what’s our impact? That’s the question The Nature Record is tackling with the Assessment—a national, evidence-based examination of how nature is changing in the United States and what those changes mean for our health, homes, communities, and economy.

On Thursday, May 14, The Nat will be co-hosting a free, public event where The Nature Record will share its data, hold a Q&A, and welcome public input. If you care about the places you live, work, and love, your voice matters. You can shape the record. We’re pleased to be one of only six stops on this nationwide listening tour.

This is a free event; however, an RSVP is required. Theater doors open at 6 PM.

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Into the Blue: San Diego’s Underwater Forests

Thursday, June 11, 2026 7 PM

Discover the fascinating world of seaweed forests on a visual adventure with artist and marine scientist, Oriana Pointdexter.

Seaweed forests are some of the most incredible habitats on Earth, and yet these powerful sanctuaries are often overlooked and understudied. That’s where Pointdexter comes in.

Blending experimental photography techniques with her background in marine sciences, Oriana Pointdexter documents how kelp forest ecosystems shift. Embark on a visual adventure with Poindexter during her talk—through a collection of specimens, photographs, and striking art displays, she’ll compel you to reconsider how you think about kelp.

Pointdexter’s work has been published by Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and exhibited in museums and aquariums throughout California.
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Out of Plain Sight: An L.A. Times Film

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 7 PM

Join The Nat, the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography for a special screening and Q&A discussion of the award-winning Los Angeles Times documentary Out of Plain Sight.

Not far from Catalina Island, scientists discovered a corroded barrel on the seafloor that gave them chills. Partnering with Pulitzer Prize finalist Rosanna Xia, they piece together a shocking revelation: in the years after World War II, as many as half a million barrels of toxic waste were quietly dumped into the ocean—right off our coast.
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Past Talks

To view recorded talks and lectures, visit our YouTube playlist.