ACONS Webinars

A Celebration of Nantucket Sound (ACONS) Webinar Series

ACONS is an educational webinar series designed to celebrate Nantucket Sound’s exceptional environment, robust history, and cultural importance to the Cape and Islands. These webinars provide free, accessible, and fun learning opportunities for individuals and families in the safety of their own homes through Zoom. To date, we have presented over 20 webinars and have welcomed over 4,000 registrants.

Each webinar features a renowned expert in their field, presenting on one of the Sound’s unique values – and answering your questions in a live Q&A session to follow.

See what viewers are saying about our ACONS webinar series below.

Testimonials

Upcoming Webinars

Marine & Cultural Connections: Nantucket Sound & the Azores

August 14, 2025

6:00 pm

Southeastern Massachusetts and the Azores share deep historical and cultural ties. Observations recorded in whaling logbooks provide valuable insight into these connections. This webinar, featuring guest speaker Robert Rocha of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, explores primary source data from these logbooks to reveal what whalers saw as they sailed from New Bedford, past Nantucket, through Nantucket Sound, and eastward to the Azores. Many of the marine animals documented on these voyages would have also been seen in Nantucket Sound, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity and ecological link to the Azores

Register

White Sharks in Our Waters: Awareness Inspires Conservation

October 9, 2025

6:00 pm

Guest speaker Kristen Smith, Outreach and Social Media Manager for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) in Chatham, discusses the ongoing white shark research projects being conducted by AWSC, how that research is impacting conservation and public safety efforts, and up to date information on what that research has taught us. Kristen will also discuss the history of white sharks in our waters, including Nantucket Sound—and what the future of white sharks here might hold. A moderated Q&A to follow the presentation.

Register

Crabby Waters: The Green Crab in Nantucket Sound & Beyond

January 22, 2026

6:00 pm

Marine biologist Carolyn Tepolt of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will guide us through the story of the green crab invasion on the East Coast, including its growing presence in Nantucket Sound and areas south of Cape Cod. Carolyn will share insight from her lab’s research into the genetics and temperature tolerance of these crabs. She’ll also offer a compelling comparison to her work on the West Coast, where the green crab’s arrival is more recent and research and management efforts are rapidly evolving.

Register

Past Webinars

Catching Migration: Songbird Banding on Nantucket

June 12, 2025

Guest Speaker: Libby Buck, Master Bird Bander at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation discusses the science of bird banding and the world of bird migration research!

Watch Video

Climate Challenges on Cape Cod

April 24, 2025

Guest speaker: Meteorologist Chris Gloninger, Sr. Scientist at Woods Hole Group, explores the history of climate change and how current trends are reshaping Cape Cod & the Islands.

Watch Video

Oyster Farming & Nantucket Sound

March 20, 2025

Guest Speaker: Dan Martino, author (The Oyster Book) and co-owner of Cottage City Oysters on Martha’s Vineyard, talks about farming oysters on the Cape and Islands.

Watch Video