Attend this fascinating presentation at the New England Aquarium, with Edith Widder, PhD, CEO, President & Senior Scientist for the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc. At depths where sunlight is dim or absent and in surface waters at night animals produce light called bioluminescence to attract mates, find food and evade predators. The ancient Polynesians were masters at reading this light and used bioluminescence as an aide to navigation.  Modern oceanographers are learning to read and interpret this language as well. Dr. Widder will highlight recent applications she has seen firsthand, including the use of this light to lure predators and to help protect marine ecosystems by making pollution visible. Register here. Lectures are free and open to the public. Registration is requested. All programs start at 7 p.m. in the Aquarium's Harborside Learning Lab unless otherwise noted. Get general directions to the Aquarium, and use this map to find the Harborside Learning Lab. Programs last approximately one hour followed by a reception.

Walk the Blue Hills, Canton, Sat., May 19, 1PM

Go for a walk through the Blue Hills Reservation, with the Blue Hills Adult Walking Club! Moderate walk, some hills, 4 miles. Loop around Ponkapoag Pond on the green dot trail. Meet at the Ponkapoag Golf Course parking lot at 2173 Washington St., Canton. Please wear sturdy footgear, carry drinking water on all hikes, and dress in layers for maximum comfort. We will hike unless the weather is severe. If weather conditions are questionable, call DCR reservation headquarters at 617-698-1802. The Blue Hills Adult Walking Club is a group of adults that meets on a weekly basis for recreational walks. The purpose of these walks is social exercise. There is no fee to join, and everyone 16 or older is welcome. Walks are normally 2 to 5 miles. Walks are led by a DCR Park Ranger or a Walking Club volunteer leader. This program is free and organized by the MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation - South Region. 

Green Up the Blue Hills, Canton, Sun., May 20, 1-3PM

Join the Friends of the Blue Hills and the Appalachian Mountain Club to help keep the forests healthy for people, plants and animals. Meet at Temple Beth David, 1060 Randolph St., Canton. Write to info@FriendsoftheBlueHils.org or call 781-828-1805 for registration. For more info., visit http://www.FriendsoftheBlueHills.org. 

The Secret Lives of Leatherbacks: Satellite-Tracking the World's Largest Sea Turtles, Boston, Thurs., May 24, 7PM

Attend this fascinating presentation at the New England Aquarium, with Kara Dodge, PhD candidate, University of New Hampshire – Department of Biological Sciences and UMass-Amherst - Large Pelagics Research Center. Each year, Cape Cod plays host to the world’s largest sea turtle—the leatherback. Weighing up to 1,000 pounds, leatherback turtles swim thousands of miles from their tropical breeding grounds to the chilly habitat of New England in pursuit of their jellyfish prey. We know surprisingly little about these ocean giants, particularly in their Northeast US feeding grounds. After spending time from Cape Cod to Barbados throughout her career, Kara Dodge shares her experiences and her most recent work on these fantastic creatures. Register here. Lectures are free and open to the public. Registration is requested. All programs start at 7 p.m. in the Aquarium's Harborside Learning Lab unless otherwise noted. Get general directions to the Aquarium, and use this map to find the Harborside Learning Lab (pdf). Programs last approximately one hour followed by a reception.

Dinner Matters: Lobster Love, Sushi Secrets & How We Can Help Save the Seas with Smart Eating, Boston, Thurs., June 14, 7PM

Attend this fascinating presentation at the New England Aquarium's Imax Theatre, with Trevor Corson, bestselling author of The Secret Life of Lobsters and The Story of Sushi. Trevor Corson draws on his experiences researching and writing his two bestselling books —The Secret Life of Lobsters and The Story of Sushi—as well as his two years as a full-time commercial fisherman, his current work as the only "Sushi Concierge" in the United States and his appearances as a judge on Food Network TV's Iron Chef America, to share his passion for marine science and fishing, the amusing social life of lobsters, the surprising secrets of sushi and the current plight of the endangered bluefin tuna. Using stories, photos, and videos, Carson ties his far-flung subject matter together with an empowering message about how our choices at the dinner table and the ways we harvest our seafood can help save our oceans. Register here. Lectures are free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Get general directions to the Aquarium. Programs last approximately one hour followed by a reception.

Annual Meeting of Neponset River Watershed Association, Canton, Thurs., June 28

Location: Reebok Headquarters, Canton. More details to come!