Lewiston/Auburn Senior College plans to host Lynda Ada Doughty for its Food for Thought event at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, online.

Doughty is the executive director and 2011 founder of Marine Mammals of Maine.

Born and raised in Maine, she always knew she wanted to work with helping marine mammals. She has provided care for thousands of them and has opened Maine’s first seal triage center, according to a news release from the college.

Her work has involved conducting whale necropsies, disentanglement, population studies, marine debris projects and sterning on lobster boats. She was recognized by the Portland Press Herald in 2014 as one of 10 Mainers for whom to be thankful.

She received her degree in marine science from Maine Maritime Academy. She also serves on the board of directors for Phippsburg Land Trust.

Doughty, named on of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of 2021, will talk about the work of the fast-growing nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to marine mammal and sea turtle response, rescue, care, research and education. Annually, the nonprofit responds to nearly 300 live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles across roughly 2,500 miles of coastline (including islands), covering the geographic area of Kittery to Rockland. Doughty will talk about how they do this and what it means for the health of the Maine coast.

MMoME operates a unique triage and rehabilitation center for seals. It provides short-term care for critical animals before their transport to an out-of-state rehabilitation facility, and recent federal authorization enables MMoME to provide this long-term rehabilitative care as well.

MMoME’s work also heavily encompasses important research to learn about marine mammals, their habitats, and human impacts on their populations.

To attend the talk, email laseniorcollege@gmail.com by noon Tuesday, March 29, and include name and the name of the program. An email will be sent with the link on the morning of the event.

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