Each Wednesday through September at the Imperial Yacht Club.
Doors open at 18:00 and presentations start at 18:30
Entry free. Refreshments will be served after.
2 September 2026
Craig Glatthaar, Conservationist
Why did the spurfowl cross the road? And then, having crossed it, where did it go? These are some of the questions Craig will address in his presentation about ‘bird corridors’ – the green belts, and wetlands, that birds (and bees) use to navigate their imperilled ways through the increasing human footprint as towns and cities gobble up natural habitat.
Craig Glatthaar grew up mostly outdoors catching snakes and frogs (‘and colds’, he says), he started taking Vitamin-B and was soon hooked (as in Bushveld, and also Birds and Bees). Craig got into safari guiding which in turn led to degrees in ecotourism and conservation. He quit life in the bush in order to continue his studies which led to him spending some time in the Swedish conifer forests stalking moose and bears in the name of research.
While working for the Wilderness safari group – where he is head of sales for the Americas – Craig is conducting research towards a PhD in ornithology.
9 September 2026
Coleen Moloney, Marine Ecologist
Coleen’s presentation focuses on the group of mainly blue-coloured organisms found floating at the surface of the ocean, the so-called “Blue Fleet”.
Some members of this group (like the familiar bluebottle) wash up occasionally on Muizenberg Beach. Coleen will describe the various species that form part of the group and how they live and interact with one another.
Coleen Moloney is a marine ecologist who spent 20+ years lecturing and conducting research, primarily at the University of Cape Town. Her areas of expertise are in marine ecosystems, with a focus on how human activities impact the ocean. Her interests span all types of organisms, although she has a special passion for those that cannot be seen, the largely invisible but important marine micro-organisms. Part of her time has been spent working with others on mitigating ocean impacts, particularly in relation to climate change, fishing, and plastic pollution.
16 September 2026
Dr Jessica da Silva is a Principal Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, specialising in conservation and evolutionary genetics.
Jessica has studied Western Leopard Toad populations for several years, focusing on their genetic diversity and connectivity. In this talk, Jessica will introduce the biology of the Western Leopard Toad, share what we know about its populations and the threats they face, and demonstrate how research, conservation partnerships and local communities are helping to secure the future of this iconic Cape species.
Her research uses molecular approaches to better understand wildlife populations and inform their conservation and management. While Jessica works on numerous species, much of her research has focused on reptiles and amphibians. Jessica leads work on genetic diversity within South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment and is actively involved in international efforts to make genetic information a routine component of biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning and policy.
