VERO BEACH, FL – The Emerson Center proudly announces its 2026 E-Series lectures, featuring five engaging presentations designed to educate, inspire, and entertain. This year’s lineup brings experts in environmental conservation, wildlife protection, maritime survival, and ecosystem stewardship to the Vero Beach community.
The 2026 E-Series lectures include:
- Heather Stapleton – The Indian River Lagoon Story
Tuesday, January 6, 7:00 p.m.
Heather Stapleton, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, discusses the lagoon’s ecological importance and citizen engagement in its preservation.
- Dr. Jeff Eble – Marine Mammals at Risk: Dolphins and Manatees
Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Eble, Florida Program Director at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, explores challenges facing dolphins and manatees, including research, rescue efforts, and community involvement.
- Olivia Redding – The History of Sea Turtles in Southeastern Florida
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m.
Olivia Redding, Rescue and Research Coordinator at Coastal Connections, Inc., highlights sea turtle conservation, rescue programs, and their regional history.
- Michael J. Tougias – Ten Hours Until Dawn: Blizzard of ’78 Survival Story
Tuesday, March 17, 7:00 p.m.
Bestselling author Michael J. Tougias recounts a dramatic maritime rescue during the Blizzard of 1978 with historic photos, maps, and audio recordings.
- Dennis Mayo – Pollinators in Florida: Nature’s Essential Workers
Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 p.m.
Florida Master Naturalist Dennis Mayo explores the role of pollinators in Florida’s ecosystems and practical ways to help protect them.
About The Emerson Center
The Emerson Center’s mission is to provide educational, enlightening, and thought-provoking programs, alongside memorable musical events, for our community. As Vero Beach’s premier performance venue, The Emerson Center proudly presents its popular E-Series lectures—a lineup designed to engage, educate, and entertain. Doors open one hour prior to each lecture. While admission is free, a suggested donation of $10 is greatly appreciated.
The Emerson Center is located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, 1590 27th Ave, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. For more information, visit TheEmersonCenter.com.
