The Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture Series was conceived by the Boler Family Foundation, which underwrites the speaker fees and expenses, as a way to honor a dear family friend. Paul McCarthy was the founder of Captiva Cruises and an engaged and community-focused presence on the islands for years.
2025 McCarthy Lecture Featuring National Geographic Photographer Joel Satore
6 p.m. | Feb. 6 | Sanibel Community House
National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore delivered our 7th annual Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture, drawing hundreds to the Sanibel Community House. Sartore specializes in documenting endangered species and is widely known for his work photographing over 16,000 species as part of the National Geographic Photo Ark — a project that has led him to over 750 zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries around the world.
Stay tuned for the 2026 McCarthy Lecture speaker!
Past McCarthy Lecture Speakers
- 2025: Joel Sartore, National Geographic photographer, author, and founder of the National Geographic Photo Ark
- 2024: Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Sixth Extinction
- 2023: Jeff Corwin, popular American biologist and TV host
- 2022: Bob Ballard, oceanographer and deep sea explorer
- 2021: Kathryn Sullivan, first American female astronaut to walk in space, geologist, oceanographer
- 2020: Sylvia Earle, first female chief scientist of NOAA, National Geographic Explorer at Large
- 2019: Andy Goodman, renowned storyteller and co-founder of The Goodman Center
McCarthy Lecture Series Photos
