| Contact |
Dustin Luca
|
|---|
SALEM, MASS. – The inhabitants of the North Shore have always coexisted with a native seal population, even before the settlement of Salem. A traveling exhibit coming to Salem State University this week will explore the evolving relationship between coastal seals and human society.
The Seals and Society traveling exhibit takes over the lobby of the Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons for two weeks beginning today, April 6 and ending Friday, April 17. A guest talk titled Sharing the Shores: Seals, Science and Society will also take place the afternoon of Thursday, April 9, midway into the exhibit.
Seals and Society explores the lives of gray and harbor seals in the region’s coastal ecosystem and the relationship they’ve had with humans along the coast. The relationship between seals and human society has shifted over time, as perceptions toward them have ranged from positive for the ecosystem and tourism to problematic for the fishing industry.
“The exhibit provides both a natural history of seals and information on their ecological role and their role in society—looking at how they were perceived by Indigenous people, throughout history, and to today,” said Jennifer Jackman, a professor of politics, policy, and international relations at Salem State. “It was first launched at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and has been traveling around New England ever since. We are delighted to have the opportunity to share this important exhibit with our campus and the North Shore community.”
The talk, also a part of Salem State’s Earth Days Week, will host Andrea Bogomolni, a seal scientist, chairperson of the Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium and co-creator of the exhibit.
“Humans have intertwined in the lives of seals for millennia,” Bogomolni said. “We hope that this exhibit brings a better understanding into the lives of these animals and our relationships, past and present, to inspire and to foster coexistence into the future.”
The exhibit and talk are hosted by the Bates 鶹˾Ʒ for Public and Global Affairs, the politics, policy, and international relations department, and the geography and sustainability department.
The Library and Learning Commons lobby is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 12 am, Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from 9 am to 12 am. The Sharing the Shores talk will take place Thursday, April 9 from 12:15 to 1:30 in the MLK, Jr. room in Ellison Campus 鶹˾Ʒ, located next to the library.
For more information on the exhibit, please visit the .