The Paul Illg Distinguished Lectureship will present another outstanding speaker in 2009. The 11th annual Illg Lecturer will be Dr. Edith Widder, Co-founder and President of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association. There will be a public lecture on Friday evening, July 3 at 7 p.m. at the San Juan Community Theater. Dr. Widder will present a talk entitled “Bioluminescent oddities and wonders of the invertebrate world.”

Dr. Widder is a biologist and deep-sea explorer who combines expertise in oceanographic research and technological innovation with a commitment to reversing the worldwide trend of marine ecosystem degradation. Dr. Widder graduated Magna cum laude from Tufts University where she received her BS Degree in Biology and then her Masters Degree in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology awarded at UC Santa Barbara.

In 2005, Dr. Widder left Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution where she worked for 16 years to co-found the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of marine ecosystems and the species they sustain through development of innovative technologies and science-based conservation action. In September of 2006, based on her work with ORCA, she was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Please make reservations for the lecture by calling 360-378-2165 x 11 or e-mailing cowelk@u.washington.edu. Keep abreast of other events at Friday Harbor Laboratories by visiting http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/events.html.