This documentary film, Ocean with David Attenborough, was released on May 08, 2024 to global audiences. Once again we have the privilege of screening this fascinating film at the Swakopmund Museum as part of our Oceans Month Celebrations at the Swakopmund Museum on 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯𝟬. It takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the  ocean. In the film the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

- Presenter Scientific Society Swakopmund
- Venue: Swakopmund Museum Lecture Hall

Since 2020, a dramatic and devastating shift has occurred in our oceans. High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5Nx historically known as a "bird flu" confined to poultry and wild birds has jumped species' boundaries with catastrophic results. Marine mammals, specifically pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), have suffered greater mortality from this global panzootic than any other mammalian group. In this upcoming presentation, marine biologist Arariky Shikongo reviews a critical 2026 global case study published by the Royal Society. The data is sobering: outbreaks in the Southern Hemisphere have already wiped out entire demographic cohorts of South American sea lions and southern elephant seals, driven by a newly emerged, marine mammal-adapted viral strain capable of transmission between seals. It promises to be an insightful evening that bridges cutting-edge global virology with practical, local ocean literacy. While the threat is unprecedented, understanding the data is our best tool to foster ecosystem resilience and protect Southern Africa’s marine biodiversity before an emergency hits our coastline.

- Presenter Arariky Shikongo (OCN)
- Venue: Swakopmund Museum Lecture Hall

The Kunene River mouth on the Namibia–Angola border has long been known to local observers as a place where green turtles gather in remarkable numbers. A short survey in 2015 and the first recorded nesting event in February 2020 hinted at the site's significance — but a sustained, systematic effort to understand why turtles aggregate here, and what role this remote estuarine system plays in their life cycle, had never been undertaken. In November 2025, the Namibia Nature Foundation conducted the first structured baseline survey of sea turtles at the Kunene River mouth, under the Blue Benguela Partnership project. Over 21 days the team recorded more than 2,100 turtle observations and documented ten confirmed mating events — the first direct evidence that this site might function as a seasonal reproductive habitat for green turtles in the South-East Atlantic. Shortly afterwards, in February 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, in collaboration with NNF, deployed two satellite transmitters on adult green turtles at the site — the first satellite tracking of any sea turtle in Namibia, which will for the first time reveal where Namibia's turtles travel when they leave our waters. This illustrated public lecture tells the story of that journey — from early opportunistic sightings to the first systematic science — and introduces all five sea turtle species recorded in Namibian waters. It will explain why the Benguela ecosystem may matter far more for sea turtle conservation than previously appreciated, and outline a proposed three-year national research programme, currently at concept note stage, that aims to expand surveys to the full Namibian coastline and ultimately deliver Namibia's first National Sea Turtle Management Plan. While funding for the full programme is still being sought, research continues under the Blue Benguela Partnership. Accessible and engaging for all ages, this lecture is for anyone who has ever wondered what lives just off our coastline — and what we owe it.

- Presenter Joachim Naulerts (NNF)
- Venue: Swakopmund Museum Lecture Hall

Please register via office@sciswk.com to be part of this walk! Bronwen Currie is a marine biologist with a long-standing work record with the the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources' research institute in Swakopmund. Her greatest interest however is not fish, but marine ecology in general, and invertebrates in particular. Life in the Namibian coastal waters is super-productive owing to the northern Benguela upwelling, which largely regulates the species distribution on the intertidal shores. In this walk along a rocky beach portion in Swakopmund, she will point out common animals living there and describe how they are adapted to their habitat. Note: We advise to wear warm clothing, waterproof jacket and pants (if available), hat and sunscreen and to bring water. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes that may get wet.

- Presenter Bronwen Currie
- Venue: Meetingpoint in Strand Street, Vineta

The time has finally arrived for another "Night at the Museum"! Prepared and hosted by the Swakopmund Museum Youth Ambassadors on 13th and 14th of June 2026. This is what you can expect: Step into the shadows in the Swakopmund Museum for a thrilling Night at the Museum: Murder Mystery! Explore darkened exhibits, solve hidden riddles, uncover secret clues and work together to reveal the truth behind a chilling murder that shook the museum walls. Children: 10 - 15 years @ 18:00 - 19:30 Adults: 16+ years @ 20:30 - 22:00 Bookings are ESSENTIAL! Book with Nadine Phiri at 081 2947344.

- Presenter Swakopmund Museum Youth Ambassadors
- Venue: Swakopmund Museum