Public Invited To Free VIU Science & Technology Lecture Jan. 14

January 12, 2015

NANAIMO, BC: The waters of British Columbia have a remarkable diversity of marine mammals – 31 species have been recorded here, one-quarter of all marine mammal species in the world.

After co-existing with First Nations people on the coast for millennia, many marine mammals were driven to near extinction by rampant exploitation following the arrival of Europeans.

In a free public lecture as part of Vancouver Island University’s Science & Technology lecture series, Dr. John Ford will provide an overview of the marine mammals of BC and describe their past exploitation and conservation status today. Some species are recovering very well, while others have a ways to go.

Dr. Ford is head of the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo and an adjunct professor in the Department of Zoology and Fisheries Centre at the University of BC.

His talk is based upon research conducted for his recently published Royal BC Museum Handbook on the Marine Mammals of British Columbia. Copies of the book will be available for $25 with proceeds going towards VIU’s Museum of Natural History.

Dr. Ford’s lecture takes place Wednesday, January 14 from 7 pm to 8 pm at VIU’s Nanaimo campus, 900 Fifth Street, Building 310, Malaspina Theatre.

VIU’s free Science & Technology lecture series is held every Wednesday night and is aimed at non-scientific and scientific audiences. For a full schedule and location of upcoming talks, visit http://web.viu.ca/simmsw

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Marilyn Assaf, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University

P: 250.740.6559 C: 250.618.4596 E: Marilyn.Assaf@viu.ca T: @viunews

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