Whale Migration Challenge Speaker Series

Gray Whales in Southern California

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
6:00 PM on Zoom

Guest Presenter:
Alisa Schulman-Janiger

We are live on Zoom, but there is an in-person viewing party at the Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32340 N. Harbor Dr. in Fort Bragg
Happy Hour 5:00-6:00 PM; presentation at 6:00 PM

Part Two of the Whale Migration Challenge speaker series.

Alisa Schulman-Janiger is a renowned marine biologist, whale researcher, and educator who has spent decades studying cetaceans along the California coast. She is best known as the director and coordinator of the American Cetacean Society Los Angeles Chapter Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, a long-running shore-based study of gray whale movements and behavior in Southern California that she founded in the 1980s. In addition to her gray whale work, Alisa has trained naturalists, taught marine science for many years, served on NOAA’s response teams, and contributed to numerous scientific papers on whales and other marine mammals.

In this second talk of the Whale Migration Challenge speaker series, Alisa will focus on gray whales in Southern California and her decades-long research observing their migrations, behavior, and trends along the coast. She’ll share insights from her extensive fieldwork, highlight how Southern California serves as a key place to monitor migrating whales, and reflect on changes she’s witnessed in whale numbers and behavior over her long career.

There is no fee for our science talk presentations, but your minimum $10 DONATION will support these programs and speakers.

Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger