In conversation with … Hartley George, Horniman Museum and Gardens
07 May 2026
In the second of our Ocean themed evening talks, Hartley George, Aquarium Curator at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, will be giving a talk on Project Coral – the Horniman’s pioneering research project that has transformed our understanding of coral reproduction.
Since 2013, Project Coral has been able to induce corals to spawn predictably in an aquarium setting by replicating the precise environmental conditions that trigger mass spawning events in the wild. This breakthrough, shared openly with institutions around the world, has opened up new avenues for coral research and reef restoration at a time when reefs face unprecedented threats from climate change and human activity.
This talk will cover how the Horniman is able to get tropical corals to spawn in the heart of south London, how these same techniques are being applied to native British coral species, and will also touch on the wider marine breeding work taking place at the Horniman Aquarium.
The evening will be compered by Nick Ball, Collections, Galleries and Interpretation at the Historic Dockyard, and there will be a question and answer session following the conversation.
Our talks are free to attend (you do not need a Dockyard admission ticket) but spaces are limited. Tickets must be booked in advance.
| When? | Thursday 7 May |
| Where? | The Mess Deck |
| Time? | Arrival from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The Mess Deck will be open for drinks and snacks prior to the talk. |
| Cost? | Talks are free to attend but we ask that you book in advance. |
