Great Whales and Shipwrecks Talk at CCCC

Craig MacDonald, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary will explore that unique place Oct. 26 at 7 pm. with a multimedia presentation in the Tilden Arts Center Main Theater at Cape Cod Community College. Titled: "Great Whales and Historic Shipwrecks of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary."

The event is free, part of the College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Presidential Lecture Series. MacDonald summarizes the evening this way, “Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is the seasonal home to endangered humpback and right whales and the final resting place for possibly hundreds of historic shipwrecks.  Get up close with scientists placing computerized tags on these great whales and down deep with maritime archaeologists using robots to investigate shipwrecks of national significance. 

Learn what whales are doing below the sea surface, visit ‘New England's Titanic,’ the steamship Portland, on the sea floor and see other examples of the remarkable research being conducted in our national marine sanctuary.” 

The Stellwagen Bank sanctuary was designated by Congress in 1992. 

Nearly the size of the State of Rhode Island, it is located at the entrance of Massachusetts Bay between Gloucester and Provincetown. It is New England's only national marine sanctuary. Craig MacDonald, Ph.D., has been the Superintendent of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary since 2000. Headquartered in Scituate, Massachusetts, he oversees sanctuary policies and planning, education and outreach, facilities management, and diverse technical projects including marine mammal research, biodiversity conservation, seafloor habitat studies, use assessments and maritime archaeology. 

These projects use large oceanographic vessels, blimps, science divers and an array of remote sensing technologies including robots, sonar and acoustic devices.  In recognition of his work for the sanctuary, he was included among the "400 People Who Make a Difference" by Cape Cod Life Magazine in 2007. In his previous position, Dr. MacDonald was the Ocean Resources Development Manager for the State of Hawaii (1985-2000), and during much of that time also was an Adjunct Professor of Ocean Policy at the University of Hawaii. 

He is a Fellow of the Marine Technology Society, holds graduate degrees in oceanography and marine biology, has done postdoctoral work in fisheries science, and is a certified public administrator.  He has worked extensively throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands on diverse projects involving the integration of ocean resources management and development and international collaboration.  Dr. MacDonald has published extensively in the professional literature; been on the board of directors of several national and international marine science and policy organizations; and served on numerous governmental advisory bodies.  

Information provided by a Cape Cod Community College press release.