Welcome to Natural History Week
For more than 45 years the Natural History Week conference, held at the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island, has given adults and families a perfect vacation, with daily presentations on topics as diverse as ornithology, animal migration, wildflowers, geology, botany, entomology, archaeology, and oceanography.
The 2025 Natural History Week’s topic will be astronomy, with a week’s worth of world-class presentations on the topic, including observations in the uncluttered night sky of the island. The Conference will also feature different speakers each day presenting issues and trends impacting the Gulf of Maine, its fisheries, mammals, natural health, and more.
Beyond expanding your mind with a deeper understanding of our planet and the Gulf of Maine, Natural History & Science Week on Star Island offers a respite from the busy life on the mainland, and is an all-inclusive stay, including three meals, and access to all Star Island facilities. Learn more on our Activities page.
The 2025 Natural History Week’s topic will be astronomy, with a week’s worth of world-class presentations on the topic, including observations in the uncluttered night sky of the island. The Conference will also feature different speakers each day presenting issues and trends impacting the Gulf of Maine, its fisheries, mammals, natural health, and more.
Beyond expanding your mind with a deeper understanding of our planet and the Gulf of Maine, Natural History & Science Week on Star Island offers a respite from the busy life on the mainland, and is an all-inclusive stay, including three meals, and access to all Star Island facilities. Learn more on our Activities page.
2025 Program and Speakers
Every Day - The Cosmos
Every morning John Gianforte will present on earth’s place in the cosmos. John is the Director of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Observatory, and Astronomy Instructor at UNH. He is also a Science Writer, and Adjunct Faculty member at Granite State College, where he teaches Modern Astronomy and Experimental Physics. Learn more about "the sky guy" here http://www.theskyguy.org and read his biography here https://extension.unh.edu/person/john-gianforte
Monday - The Gulf of Maine Ecosystem - River Fish Runs
John Banks, a Penobscot Nation tribal citizen, was the first Director of Natural Resources for his tribe. He will talk about the Penobscot River Restoration Project, and its impact on the ecological health of the Penobscot River watershed and the Gulf of Maine.
Tuesday - Shells, Sharks and More
T.J. Cullinane will talk about the shells, sharks and other typical Gull species. He is the Outreach Coordinator for the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach, a Member of Massachusetts Marine Educators, a Trustee of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry New Hampshire, and a Commissioner of the Derry Heritage Commission.
Wednesday - Connecting Environmental and Human Health
Dr. Charles Rolsky is the Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist of the Shaw Institute, in Blue Hill, Maine. He is widely considered one of the world's foremost researchers on the impact of plastic pollution, PFAS and other contaminants. He'll be joining us to talk about the work he does to connect the dots between the health of humans, wildlife and the ecosystems we all share - in the Gulf of Maine region and beyond.
Thursday - Turning Science into Action
The Gulf of Maine can produce environmentally friendly sustainable products. This afternoon's talk will discuss some of those products brought to market, or in development, such as sunscreen from kelp, kelp production and harvesting, eel growth in on-shore facilities, and harvesting invasive green crabs for food.
Friday - Power Up with Batteries
Rodney Dixon, retired Lab Manager and current adjunct professor of chemistry at Towson University in Maryland, will give a presentation and general overview of concepts in battery and fuel cell science and technology, with some specific examples to illustrate those concepts. Sustainability issues related to the use of these technologies will be discussed.
Saturday - Low Tide Walk and Marine Mammal Observation
Get your feet wet! Aravis Albert from the Seacoast Science Center will take us on a walk along the island’s shore at low tide, with a hands-on collection of tide pool organisms, and then a professionally lead Rutledge Marine Lab visit to see the touch tanks and discuss the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem. After the Marine Lab presentation, we will go onboard the MV Shining Star for a naturalist guided trip to see the local harbor seal population.
Every morning John Gianforte will present on earth’s place in the cosmos. John is the Director of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Observatory, and Astronomy Instructor at UNH. He is also a Science Writer, and Adjunct Faculty member at Granite State College, where he teaches Modern Astronomy and Experimental Physics. Learn more about "the sky guy" here http://www.theskyguy.org and read his biography here https://extension.unh.edu/person/john-gianforte
Monday - The Gulf of Maine Ecosystem - River Fish Runs
John Banks, a Penobscot Nation tribal citizen, was the first Director of Natural Resources for his tribe. He will talk about the Penobscot River Restoration Project, and its impact on the ecological health of the Penobscot River watershed and the Gulf of Maine.
Tuesday - Shells, Sharks and More
T.J. Cullinane will talk about the shells, sharks and other typical Gull species. He is the Outreach Coordinator for the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach, a Member of Massachusetts Marine Educators, a Trustee of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry New Hampshire, and a Commissioner of the Derry Heritage Commission.
Wednesday - Connecting Environmental and Human Health
Dr. Charles Rolsky is the Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist of the Shaw Institute, in Blue Hill, Maine. He is widely considered one of the world's foremost researchers on the impact of plastic pollution, PFAS and other contaminants. He'll be joining us to talk about the work he does to connect the dots between the health of humans, wildlife and the ecosystems we all share - in the Gulf of Maine region and beyond.
Thursday - Turning Science into Action
The Gulf of Maine can produce environmentally friendly sustainable products. This afternoon's talk will discuss some of those products brought to market, or in development, such as sunscreen from kelp, kelp production and harvesting, eel growth in on-shore facilities, and harvesting invasive green crabs for food.
Friday - Power Up with Batteries
Rodney Dixon, retired Lab Manager and current adjunct professor of chemistry at Towson University in Maryland, will give a presentation and general overview of concepts in battery and fuel cell science and technology, with some specific examples to illustrate those concepts. Sustainability issues related to the use of these technologies will be discussed.
Saturday - Low Tide Walk and Marine Mammal Observation
Get your feet wet! Aravis Albert from the Seacoast Science Center will take us on a walk along the island’s shore at low tide, with a hands-on collection of tide pool organisms, and then a professionally lead Rutledge Marine Lab visit to see the touch tanks and discuss the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem. After the Marine Lab presentation, we will go onboard the MV Shining Star for a naturalist guided trip to see the local harbor seal population.
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