Viking Orion Guest Lecturers

One of the joys of a trip on Viking, besides the smaller and more intimate size, is the inclusion of guest lecturers that offer detailed information on topics pertaining to the places, people, history, geography, and climate of where we are and where we are going.  Each lecture lasts about an hour.  However, in several cases follow up “discussions” of topics happen in a smaller venue on the ship.  These small group affairs offer a much more in depth look at the topics.  If you travel on Viking, do not pass up these lectures.  They are wonderful.

Dr Christopher Carter

   1. History of the Australian Land Mass, its geology and geomorphology.\

     2. The Prehistory of New Zealand.

     3. A rough and ragged lot-the history of whaling in the Pacific.

     4. The First Nations-Aboriginal Australia.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Sweeney RFD (RTD), Resident Historian

     1. History of Australia Dream Time to 1851.

     2. The Bayeaux Tapestry-a requirement of the Viking Company!

     3. Pacific Exploration-the issues of explorers as “East meets West” in the Pacific.

     4, The History of New Zealand. Settlement by the Maori and then Europeans.

     5. History of Australia: 1851 to present.

Alan E. Wright, Resident Astronomer

     1. Science, influence, beauty, and power of the moon.

     2. Contact with other worlds.

     3, Where on Earth Are We? The history of astronomy in navigating the seas.

     4. Time, the strangest thing-the most baffling concept in the whole universe.

     5.The Wonders and Beauty of the Universe.

Mr. Philip Creaser, geology

     1. Amber in Australia and New Zealand.

     2.The geology of New Zealand.

     3. New Zealand’s Unique Animals-without any predators, plants and animals evolved very differently.

     4. Australian animals-the continents wild, strange, and wonderful creatures.