Make a Splash! Secret Science Club presents Marine Biologist & Explorer David Gruber, MONDAY, December 16, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE!

We’re getting wet and wild for the holidays!

Take the plunge at the next Secret Science Club with ocean explorer and marine biologist David Gruber.

Just returned from an expedition exploring the frigid waters underneath the ice in Greenland, David Gruber typically spends about two months of the year conducting undersea research—scuba diving or riding in tiny submersible vehicles that allow him to spend hours below the surface.

He’s curious about unsung, strange ocean creatures, such as deep-sea jellyfish and sponges, and how they live in diverse environments—from coral reefs to the Arctic. He’s invented techniques—such as “soft” robotic arms—to interact with delicate marine organisms. And he’s fascinated by biofluorescence, with his research leading to the discovery of the first biofluorescent sea turtle and over 200 other “glowing” sea animals.

Dr. Gruber tries to see the ocean through the eyes of sea creatures and lately, he’s particularly interested in how these animals communicate. He asks: Can we learn how to talk to whales using artificial intelligence? What are fish “saying” with biofluoresence and bioluminescence? How can we use new technology to understand undersea species?

David Gruber is a marine biologist and professor at Baruch College at the City University of New York and CUNY Graduate Center. He is an Explorer for National Geographic and a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History. His research & writing have appeared in the New Yorker, New York Times, National Geographic, and The Best American Science Writing. This year, Dr. Gruber was awarded the 2019 Lagrange Prize, the greatest international recognition for complex systems science, for his research “focused on the conservation of biodiversity, protection of resources and the safeguarding of ecosystems."

Before & After

--Dive into the holidays with our cocktail of the night, the Jingle Shell!
--Groove to sea shanties, surf music, and whale song 

--Plunge into the sea-salty Q&A

This deep-sea edition of the Secret Science Club meets Monday, December 16, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. in Brooklyn (between 2nd and 3rd avenues). Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+. No cover. Just bring your smart self!

Photo credits: David Gruber by Elias Carlson; Comb Jelly by David Gruber

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.