The New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series welcomes bestselling author and National Book Award Finalist Sy Montgomery for a talk about octopuses and insights from her work studying these fascinating animals. Starting with the welcoming touch of a giant Pacific octopus named Athena at New England Aquarium, these intelligent cephalopods helped open the ocean to author Sy Montgomery. The result was a slew of watery adventures, leading to more than half a dozen marine-themed books, helping to inspire a golden age of octopus research and appreciation. In the space of a decade, our views of octopuses have transformed from monsters to superheroes—and the latest research has shown that the many species of these mollusks are far more varied, emotional, and socially complex than previously imagined. In her talk, Montgomery will share personal insights from her extensive study of octopuses and new scientific findings from her latest octopus book, Secrets of the Octopus.

This New England Aquarium Lowell Lecture Series event is free to the public and presented through the generosity of the Lowell Institute. Advance registration is required. Doors open and cash bar available at 6:00 p.m. The lecture begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.