In A Pirate's Life, archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer Lisa Briggs will talk about the Mediterranean Sea and explore how pirating shaped the Roman Empire. The audience will also meet the Pirate Queen of China and then head into the lab with Briggs to follow the most famous renegade, Blackbeard.

Briggs is an underwater archaeologist, scuba instructor and technical diver. Her current research examines ancient shipwrecks of the Mediterranean Sea and how scientific methods can illuminate the stories of the cargoes these ships carried and the daring sailors who plied the seas of the past. She also has a particular interest in demonstrating how the intersection of science and adventure can inspire young students to pursue STEM subjects.