March 2025 Theodore Talk I
Shedd Aquarium’s Centennial Voyage: Navigating a Century of Wonder
Sunday afternoon March 23rd, 2025, via Zoom at 1:00 pm
Shedd Aquarium, which opened its doors in 1930 as the first inland aquarium to maintain a permanent exhibition of both freshwater and saltwater fishes, was a gift to Chicago from John Graves Shedd. He wanted to give back to the city, Chicago, in which he had risen from stock boy to president of department store giant Marshall Field & Company. Today, the aquarium combines the best of the early 20th-century characteristics, with a diverse array of animals surrounded by eye-popping architecture and 21st-century advances in care and conservation.
Serving as a portal to the aquatic animal world, Shedd Aquarium brings guests eye-to-eye with belugas and bluegills, stingrays and sturgeons, coral reefs, kelp forests, and countless other species from around the world. As they see the iridescent scales of fishes found around the globe, feel the thick coat of a sea otter that allows them to survive the cold, and hear the chirps and whistles beluga whales use to communicate and navigate through dark waters, guests of all ages and backgrounds encounter beauty and science only nature can produce. These unforgettable experiences create connections with, and compassion for, life beneath the water’s surface.
The aquarium is more than just a destination. With partners across the globe, Shedd is acting for animals and advocating for their environments. Research allows us to better understand wildlife and wild places, helping us to create change for our shared blue future. Let’s learn more about this iconic institution and its commitment to conservation.
Meghan Curran, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Shedd Aquarium, will delve into how this institution continues to evolve and innovate for the next generation. She will discuss how Shedd harnesses its rich history to inform groundbreaking changes benefiting both guests and animals.
Register for this presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/4n3sctsh.
You must register for each lecture with an email address associated with your Zoom account. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for a free Zoom account at: https://zoom.us/signup.
Even if you can’t attend the live Theodore Talk lecture and any of the discussions that follow, provided you register in advance you will receive a link to a recording of the event. All Theodore Talks have closed captioning enabled.
A full write-up and contact info for this event appeared in the January issue of the Mensa Bulletin and more information is listed on American Mensa’s National Events Calendar. To promote the 2025 American Mensa AG in Chicago, the first seven Theodore Talks of this year are intended to highlight some of Chicago’s unique attractions. You can learn more about the AG here.
Please note: This is the first of two Theodore Talks taking place this afternoon, March 23rd, as part of our Double TED-er! The second talk will begin at 3:00 pm. You must register for this second Theodore Talk scheduled for today — Chicago’s Best Art Deco Skyscrapers — separately.
Remember, Theodore Talks are always offered FREE to Mensa members in an effort to provide more value for your Mensa membership.
Questions? For more information, contact Brad Lucht.
