Talks & Workshops

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

Nat Talk: Phil Unitt’s Journey Through the Collection

Thursday, February 19, 2026 7 PM

After four decades of building and caring for The Nat’s world-class bird and mammal collection, beloved Curator Phil Unitt is retiring. Before he does, he’ll take us through a journey of discovery, showing how preserved specimens help us understand environmental change and guide conservation. This is your chance to hear directly from the person who has shaped our understanding of Southern California’s wildlife.

Phil Unitt has spent his career asking a simple question: What can the past teach us about the future? Now, after 37 years of work, he’s inviting us into the world he’s dedicated his life to—The Nat's extraordinary collection of more than 53,000 bird specimens and over 26,000 mammal specimens. But as much as those specimens tell us about our environment, it is the people who built the collection who inspire us to keep their legacy vibrant.

Since the 1800s, determined collectors braved harsh conditions to document the region's wildlife. Their work created something remarkable: one of the most significant natural history collections in the western United States. In this talk, Phil brings those early nature enthusiasts to life and shows us how specimens continue to drive current research. Specimens are time capsules that reveal how our environment has changed and help us protect what remains.

You'll leave with a new appreciation for what natural history collections can do, why they need our support, and what Phil's decades of work have meant for science and conservation in our region. Come celebrate a legendary curator and discover why collections matter.

Tickets are $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Theater doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets to attend virtually can be purchased here.

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Nat Talk: An Evening with Dexter Patterson

Friday, February 27, 2026 7 PM

Hosted in partnership with the San Diego Bird Festival, this special Nat Talk features keynote speaker Dexter Patterson, birder, storyteller, educator, and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin.

Also known as the Wisco Birder, Dexter Patterson is passionate about making birdwatching inclusive for everyone. His lively "You Ready? Let's Go!" videos showcase his discoveries of various bird species and have earned millions of views online.

As an educator, photographer, writer, and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter is committed to demonstrating that birding is accessible to all. His goal is to promote inclusivity and help people connect with nature's beauty through Bird Joy. He also co-hosts the Bird Joy Podcast and is the author of Birds of the Great Lakes (Timber Press/Hachette, 2025), a birding field guide that blends birding, storytelling, and community. Through his work, he encourages a new generation of birdwatchers to explore the outdoors and appreciate the diverse life around them.

Tickets for this special keynote presentation are $32 for members and $35 non-members. Tickets to attend virtually can be purchased here.

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Past Talks

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