BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ocean Institute - ECPv5.15.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ocean Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://oceaninstitute.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ocean Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20260101T000000 END:STANDARD TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20230312T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20231105T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20240310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20241103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260805T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260805T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20260529T192046Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T192057Z UID:65103-1785952800-1785960000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Susan Sirota DESCRIPTION:Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Susan Sirota\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nJoin Deputy Director of the National Maritime Historical Society Susan Sirota for an engaging exploration of the West Coast maritime image—where it came from\, how it has been shaped\, and why it matters now more than ever. Drawing on decades of leadership in maritime history\, education\, and nonprofit organizations\, Ms. Sirota examines how today’s stewards and interpreters of maritime identity translate science\, history\, and lived experience for the public. This talk explores the challenges these organizations have faced over time\, the pressures they encounter in an era of environmental and cultural change\, and how a clear sense of purpose\, storytelling\, and public trust can help navigate an uncertain future. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, August 5 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Susan: \n\n\n\n\nSusan Sirota is a maritime historian and nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience bringing West Coast maritime stories to life for broad public audiences. She currently serves as Deputy Director of the National Maritime Historical Society and spent nearly three decades at the Maritime Museum of San Diego\, where she created hands-on educational programs\, curated exhibits\, managed tall ship festivals\, and designed and directed the Pacific Heritage Tour for the replica 1542 San Salvadore that connected hundreds of thousands of people to the Pacific’s maritime past. Deeply committed to place-based learning\, Susan’s work explores how the Pacific has shaped California’s communities\, culture\, and sense of identity—making maritime history relevant\, accessible\, and meaningful for all ages. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-susan-sirota/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oceaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Susan-Sirota.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20260130T170711Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260427T171859Z UID:63215-1778090400-1778097600@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Johanna Gutleben DESCRIPTION:Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Hidden Impacts on the Seafloor: Uncovering the Long-Term Effects of Deep-Sea Waste Dumping\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: Decaying barrels on the seafloor linked to DDT contamination have raised concerns about the public health implications of decades old industrial waste dumped off the coast of Los Angeles. To explore their contents\, we collected sediment cores close to five deep-sea barrels. We measured the concentration of DDT and its breakdown products. Our results suggest that barrels were not the source of DDT contamination. However\, sediments collected through white halos surrounding three barrels were enriched in calcite and had elevated pH. There\, microbial communities were low diversity and dominated by alkalophilic bacteria adapted to high pH. A solid concretion sampled between a white halo and barrel was composed of minerals that form at high pH. Based on these findings\, we postulate that leakage of containerized alkaline waste triggered the formation of mineral concretions and raised the pH of the surrounding sediment pore water. This selects for microbes adapted to extreme alkalinity and precipitated “anthropogenic” carbonates. These “white halos” serve as a visual identifier of barrels that contained alkaline waste\, that have unforeseen\, long-term consequences for marine communities in the San Pedro Basin.  \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, May 6 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Johanna: \n\n\n\n\nJohanna Gutleben received her BSc degree in Environmental\, Engineering and Biotechnology at the applied science university MCI in Innsbruck\, Austria. She continued her MSc studies at Wageningen University\, the Netherlands\, and at AgroParisTech\, France. Johanna joined a PhD research program at Wageningen University\, NL in the Laboratory of Microbiology studying the microbial diversity and biopharmaceutical potential of marine sponges. Currently\, Johanna is a researcher in the lab of Paul Jensen in the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine. at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California\, San Diego. Here she focuses on deep-sea microbiology\, exploring the biodiversity and biopharmaceutical diversity of various deep-sea biomes\, and studying the effects of human pollution on deep-sea ecosystems. She participated in several research expeditions\, where she collected and processed hundreds of samples from various deep-sea environments. After bringing them to the lab she studies them using molecular biology and likes to share her results in colorful figures and presentations. In her free time\, Johanna is an avid freediver and scuba diver\, enjoys surfing\, beaching and everything else ocean related. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-johanna-gutleben/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oceaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Johanna-Gutleben-portrait-square.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260408T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260408T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20260224T214035Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T214117Z UID:63725-1775671200-1775678400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Emily Martin DESCRIPTION:Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Emily Martin\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nSome of the most important life in a lake is nearly invisible. Zooplankton are small animals that drift through the water\, sustaining a foundation of mountain lake food webs. Even though they are small\, they serve critical functions\, such as eating algae and being eaten by fish. \nIn this talk\, Emily will introduce zooplankton and explain why they matter. She will share how the introduction of sport fish has changed zooplankton communities in Sierra Nevada lakes that were once fishless. She will also discuss how environmental conditions influence which species can survive in these sensitive mountain lakes. \nIn addition\, Emily will share what it means to be a mountain lake ecologist. She will describe a “day in the life” of conducting alpine fieldwork\, including backpacking into remote wilderness areas to collect samples\, performing research in rugged mountain environments\, and using the tools and equipment of the trade\, from plankton nets and water samplers to data loggers. By looking closely at small organisms\, we can gain a clearer picture of the big environmental changes happening in our beloved mountain lakes and what those changes might mean for the future of these freshwater ecosystems. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, April 8 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Emily: \n\n\n\n\nEmily Martin (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in the Symons Lab at the University of California\, Irvine. She studies mountain lakes in the Sierra Nevada and is interested in how environmental change affects the food webs within them. Her research focuses on how introduced fish and the environment are reshaping lake communities. By combining fieldwork in beautiful high-elevation lakes with experiments in the lab\, she works to better understand how biodiversity supports lake functioning. She is passionate about making science accessible\, creative\, and engaging for everyone. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-emily-martin/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oceaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Emily-Martin-Portrait-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260304T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260304T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20260130T170028Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T164149Z UID:63201-1772647200-1772654400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Bill Lackey DESCRIPTION:Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Bill Lackey\n \n \n \n \n \n Bill retired in March 2023 after working in the fire service for 37 years. During that time\, he worked as a Paramedic\, USAR Rescue Specialist\, Safety Officer\, Hazardous Materials Technician\, Fire Investigator\, and Drone Pilot. Bill has volunteered since 2017 with a local marine mammal rescue facility where he gained valuable experience working with NOAA’s West Coast Whale Disentanglement Team. With this experience\, Bill partnered with co-founders Wendy Leeds\, Lindsey Van Schoick\, and Justin Van Schoick to establish Entangled Whale Response of Orange County (EWROC) to enhance Orange County’s whale entanglement response efforts. EWROC has partnered with Ocean Institute to collaborate on the 2025 Maritime Festival\, engaging with the community to spread awareness about whale entanglements. Bill is now a level 3 whale entanglement responder with experience on multiple entanglement events. He is also an FAA Part 107 licenses Drone Pilot. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, March 4 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Entangled Whale Response Orange County (EWROC): \n\n\n\n\nWe are passionate about our efforts to minimize the suffering of entangled whales off the Orange County coastline. We believe the data gathered from entanglement gear can help with broader regional efforts to affect positive changes in the commercial fishing industry that will minimize opportunities for entanglement. We strive to strengthen the relationships within the Orange County Whale Watch/Research community that will benefit all whales passing through the offshore waters of Southern California. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-bill-lackey/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oceaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EWROC-bill-portrait-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260204T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260204T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20260108T182630Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T173444Z UID:60304-1770228000-1770235200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Carmen Koepfer DESCRIPTION:Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Carmen Koepfer\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nJoin us for a powerful evening of discovery and inspiration with M.Sc. Carmen Koepfer\, a passionate Mexican scientist and storyteller dedicated to ocean conservation. In her talk\, “Closing the Gap for Our Ocean Giants: A Story of Hope from Baja\,” she will take you on a journey into the human heart of one of the world’s greatest marine treasures: the Gulf of California. \nOnce called “the world’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau\, the Gulf is facing a silent collapse. Its iconic hammerhead shark populations have plummeted\, and with them\, a way of life for generations of fishermen. But this is not just an ecological story; it’s a deeply human one. It’s about communities caught between tradition and survival\, who tell us\, “there aren’t as many sharks as before.” \nDiscover how some communities have successfully pivoted to ecotourism\, proving that a live shark can be worth more than a dead one. Yet\, learn why this model isn’t a silver bullet. For many remote villages\, the path to sustainability is blocked by isolation\, lack of infrastructure\, and deep economic dependence on fishing. \nIn this talk\, you’ll hear the results of a groundbreaking study that visited 22 communities to listen\, not just research. You’ll meet the guardians of the Gulf—from the 72-year-old fisherman on a 10-hour journey to the families who would lose everything if shark fishing ended—and learn how true conservation must be built on social justice. \nCarmen will unveil a hopeful vision for an inclusive marine corridor from Loreto to Cabo Pulmo—a plan designed not just to protect sharks but to empower people. This is a story of resilience\, innovative solutions like traceable sustainable fisheries\, and the unbreakable link between the health of an ecosystem and the well-being of its human communities. This is more than a presentation; it’s a call to rethink what conservation means. It’s proof that the most effective solutions are those that listen to and lift up the people on the front lines. Come be inspired by a story of hope\, and learn how empowering local guardians is the key to saving our ocean giants. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, February 4 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Carmen: \n\n\n\n\nM.Sc. Carmen Koepfer is a marine biologist whose work lives at the powerful intersection of shark science\, community stories\, and actionable hope. A native of Mexico\, her journey began over a decade ago as a volunteer tagging sharks in the Sea of Cortez—an experience that showed her firsthand the majesty of these ocean giants and the delicate balance of the ecosystems they rule. \nHer academic path\, culminating in a Master’s degree focused on the economic value of sharks in Cabo Pulmo National Park\, taught her a crucial lesson: conservation is as much about people as it is about animals. This insight led her from pure research into the heart of community-based work. \nNow based in California\, Carmen bridges two worlds. As an educator at Ocean Institute and an analyst for a major collaborative project between Pelagios Kakunjá and Shark Stewards\, she is dedicated to a singular\, groundbreaking vision: protecting sharks by empowering the communities that live alongside them. Her current work on the Marine Corridor Conservation Initiative in the Gulf of California isn’t just about drawing lines on a map—it’s about listening\, understanding vulnerability\, and co-designing a future where both marine life and coastal communities can thrive. \nCarmen’s story is one of a scientist who learned that data tells only half the tale; the other half is written in the resilience of fishing families\, the challenges of remote villages\, and the unwavering belief that the most effective conservation is built on justice and collaboration. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-carmen-koepfer/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20251013T210854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T210905Z UID:58107-1762365600-1762372800@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Kylie Kinne DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Kylie Kinne\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nDive deep with Kylie Kinne as she explores how a warming planet and melting icebergs are altering the flow of ocean currents\, impacting ecosystems\, coastlines\, and the climate we all depend on. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, November 5 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Kylie: \n\n\n\n\nKylie is a PhD student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography\, University of California\, San Diego. She studies how icebergs impact the way water moves in fjords\, acting like floating barriers and creating changes in water flow. Kylie is also interested in how water from melting glaciers leaves fjords and mixes into the larger ocean\, affecting global currents. \n\nUsing observations from a fjord in Greenland and computer models\, Kylie’s research helps us understand the important role icebergs and glaciers play in the ocean. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-kylie-kinne/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251001T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251001T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104135 CREATED:20250905T222045Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T222132Z UID:57340-1759341600-1759348800@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Sydney Rilum DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Sydney Rilum\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nSydney Rilum\, a Marine Debris Specialist with USC Sea Grant and USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability\, will share insights on how marine debris and microplastics affect the environment. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, October 1 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Sydney: \n\n\n\n\nSydney Rilum is a Marine Debris Specialist with USC Sea Grant and USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. She helps lead research and policy development on marine microplastics and works collaboratively with communities in Southern California to develop improved technologies\, and impactful outreach and educational programming to reduce the amount of marine debris and microplastics that enter coastal systems. With a diverse career portfolio\, Sydney has worked in education\, habitat and species monitoring\, research and data science fields within a variety of environmental and sustainability sectors\, including non-profit (Laguna Ocean Foundation\, Aquarium of the Pacific\, OC Habitats)\, state agency (CA Department of Fish and Wildlife\, State Water Resources Control Board)\, and private (Ocean Rainforest). Sydney holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the University of California\, Santa Barbara Bren School with specializations in Coastal Marine Resources Management and Environmental Data Science\, as well as a Bachelors in Environmental and Ocean Sciences with a Marine Ecology focus from the University of San Diego. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-sydney-rilum/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250903T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250903T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250806T232724Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T232737Z UID:57020-1756922400-1756929600@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Ari Friedlaender DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Ari Friedlaender\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nMarine ecologist Dr. Ari Friedlaender will discuss recent research to better understand the behavior and threats that marine mammals face throughout California’s National Marine Sanctuaries. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, September 3 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n See more images on his Instagram (@friedlaender_lab) \nClick here: https://www.instagram.com/friedlaender_lab/ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Friedlaender: \n\n\n\n\nAri is a marine ecologist with a primary interest in using new technology to understanding the relationship between the marine mammals and their environment and how this is affected by human disturbances. Additionally\, he partners with artists to develop new ways of communicating science broadly to non-science communities.  He works on a wide range of marine mammal species including baleen and toothed whales and dolphins across a range of geographic regions. Ari has long-term ecological research projects ongoing in Alaska\, California\, Massachusetts\, North Carolina\, and Antarctica. He has helped in the development of tag technology and analytical and visualization tools to better understand the underwater movements and behaviors of marine mammals. In Antarctica\, Ari is part of the Long-Term Ecological Research program at Palmer Station to better understand the ecological roles of cetaceans in a rapidly changing environment. In California\, Ari has helped to lead the SoCal Behavioral Response Study to understand the impacts of anthropogenic sound on a variety of cetacean species. Most recently\, Ari has partnered with several different artists and artist networks to create exhibitions that focus on using science to inspire and inform works of art related to marine mammals and climate resilience in California.  Ari is a National Geographic Explorer\, World Wildlife Fund Ambassador\, and BBC Natural History Unit partner and serves on several international research and conservation committees. \n  \n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Instagram \nhttps://www.instagram.com/friedlaender_lab/ \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-ari-friedlaender-3/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250806T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250806T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250710T180105Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T180236Z UID:55196-1754503200-1754510400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker: San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project\n\nRestoring Our Local Estuary\nThe San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project Team is a group of experts working to restore and enhance the estuarine and riparian habitats supporting species native to the area\, particularly the endangered steelhead trout. Join us as they share their progress and answer questions about this amazing project! \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, August 6\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About the San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project: \n\n\n\n\n\nThe San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project is a collaborative effort with the goal to restore and enhance the estuarine and riparian habitats supporting species native to the area\, particularly the endangered steelhead trout. This goal will be accomplished by improving water quality\, natural hydrology\, and allowing complex habitat communities to thrive. This fieldwork is carried out and monitored by the SJCERP research team members and community-based participants. This three-year program began in early 2025 with South Coast Trout Unlimited in collaboration with a specialized engineering firm\, Moffatt and Nichols\, and several local\, federal\, and state agencies. The team encourages community members who frequent this treasured area of the Doheny State Park to keep an eye out for continued updates and to submit comments on observations made during their visits. \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-san-juan-creek-estuary-restoration-project/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250702T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250702T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250514T174501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T174510Z UID:54411-1751479200-1751486400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Brittany Stevens DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Brittany Stevens\n \nCaring for our Cartilaginous Friends: Shark and Ray Medicine\nHave you ever wondered what it is like to provide veterinary care to sharks and rays?  Come to the lecture “Caring for our Cartilaginous Friends: Shark and Ray Medicine” to find out!  This talk will describe some of the unique anatomy and physiology features of elasmobranchs and how these unique traits translate into how we provide veterinary care for these amazing animals.  We will also discuss some of the common ailments of elasmobranchs as well as anesthesia\, phlebotomy techniques and diagnostic imaging of sharks and rays. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, July 2\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Stevens: \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Brittany Stevens graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in zoological medicine.  Following graduation\, she undertook additional training in zoological medicine including a 1-year internship in wildlife and conservation medicine at the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island Florida and was the inaugural participant in the UC Davis Aquatic Animal Health Fellowship program.  Dr. Stevens is recognized as a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian through the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association and is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certified in fish practice.  She is currently employed at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach\, California where she is responsible for providing veterinary services to the aquarium’s diverse collection of over 14\,000 animals.  Dr. Stevens has authored numerous articles and book chapters on a wide range of topics pertaining to aquatic medicine.  Her main research interests include diagnostic imaging\, infectious diseases\, wound healing and anesthesia of aquatic animals.  \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-brittany-stevens/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250507T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250507T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250407T213841Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T213940Z UID:53672-1746640800-1746648000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Ben Perlman DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Ben Perlman\n \nPutting science behind the stingray shuffle and other observations with the round stingray\nAround the coastal United States\, stingray strikes account for nearly 2\,500 emergency room visits on an annual basis\, in addition to the several hundreds to thousands of less-serious injuries that do not yield a trip to the hospital. Along California beaches\, the Haller’s Round Ray (Urobatis halleri)\, is responsible for the majority of these interactions\, with anywhere between 200 and 400 stingray-related injuries being reported each year from Seal Beach alone. During summer months\, round stingrays aggregate in warm\, shallow sandy-bottom areas along our coast\, often coinciding with beach goers. While stingray strikes are generally non-life threatening\, their barbs are capable of inflicting deep lacerations while potentially envenomating the victim. Despite the rate at which these encounters occur and the threat that they pose to public safety\, very little is known about the behavior of these stingrays and their tail strike events. We use multiple high-speed cameras and motion tracking software to record and describe the tail strike behavior across the size range of the round stingray. This information\, along with other experiments we are conducting in my lab with round stingrays\, will provide applications relevant to beach safety. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, May 7\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Perlman: \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Benjamin Perlman is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University\, Long Beach. He is also the principal investigator of the STABB Lab (Stingray And Butterfly Biomechanics). His lab studies the kinematics\, kinetics\, and morphology of animals\, currently focusing on the round stingray. Using high-speed cameras\, material testers\, 3D scanners\, and X-ray imaging\, Ben and his team describe the form and function of stingrays. The STABB Lab is putting the science behind the colloquial SoCal saying\, “do the stingray shuffle!” Also\, Ben teaches an introduction to evolution and diversity course\, general ecology\, human anatomy\, ichthyology\, and scientific communication. He also collaborates with the Catalina Island Conservancy\, taking undergraduate students to Catalina to conduct various field studies across the island\, focusing on the introduced Argentine ant and the endemic shrew. Before he arrived at CSULB\, Ben studied the swimming performance of surfperches at Moss Landing Marine Labs for his Master’s degree\, then completed his Ph.D. at Wake Forest University studying the jumping and swimming kinematics and muscle physiology of an amphibious fish in Belize. He then became a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University focusing on bird wing biomechanics\, then conducted experiments on frog jumping and dragonfly larvae swimming and feeding behaviors at UC Irvine for his second postdoctoral position. \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-ben-perlman/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250402T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250402T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250108T231750Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250312T193608Z UID:52456-1743616800-1743624000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Magnus Egerstedt DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Magnus Egerstedt\n\nRobots in the Ocean\nRobots have left their traditional habitats in manufacturing plants or warehouses\, and they are beginning to show up all around us in our homes\, on farms\, in hospitals\, and even on Mars. One potential application for such robots is to have them perform environmental monitoring tasks that can help inform conservation biologists\, climate scientists\, and policy makers about what is happening in the natural world around them\, including in the ocean. In this talk\, we will discuss the state of robotics and AI – what is science fiction and what is science fact – as well as show how one can design effective robots that can successfully inhabit natural ecosystems for long periods of time for the purpose of providing actionable environmental data. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, April 2\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Egerstedt: \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Magnus Egerstedt is the Stacey Nicholas Dean of Engineering in the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California\, Irvine\, where he is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Prior to joining UCI\, Egerstedt was on the faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology\, serving as the Chair in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Director of Georgia Tech’s Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines. He received the M.S. degree in Engineering Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the Royal Institute of Technology\, Stockholm\, Sweden\, the B.A. degree in Philosophy from Stockholm University\, and was a Postdoctoral Scholar at Harvard University. Dr. Egerstedt’s research is in robotics\, with particular focus on how to coordinate large teams of robots; so-called swarm-robotics. Magnus Egerstedt is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Federation of Automatic Control. He is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science and has received a number of teaching and research awards\, including the Alumni of the Year Award from the Royal Institute of Technology. \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-magnus-egerstedt/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250205T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250205T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20250106T204919Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T205044Z UID:52400-1738778400-1738785600@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Kurt Yeager DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speakers: Kurt Yeager\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \n\nExposure to Marine Robotics technology in STEM Education creates attractive academic and career opportunities for students\, and it accelerates the growth of the Blue Economy. Throughout history\, technology has been a major driver of the ocean economy. Blue Robotics plays a pivotal role by providing a variety of high quality marine technology components to educational and research institutions at affordable prices\, enabling innovation in STEM education and scientific study with a marine focus. Our talk features “BlueSTEAM Ahead!\,” Blue Robotics’ initiative to bring ocean technology into STEM classrooms around the world. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, February 5\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Kurt: \n\n\n\n\nKurt Yeager has the dream job of exposing kids to marine robotics and then watching them blossom as scientists\, engineers\, or any path they choose. As the company’s first business development hire in 2023\, Kurt leads Blue Robotics’ initiative to promote the use of marine robotics in STEM Education globally. \n \nOriginally from Michigan\, after a Silicon Valley career and starting up a tech company in Monterey\, Kurt became a mentor for his kids’ Underwater Robotics Competition team. Now\, in addition to covering the education market for Blue Robotics\, Kurt is a STEM mentor in the Ventura USD\, Channel Islands High School in Oxnard\, the Compton USD\, and the Santa Cruz County / X-Academy underwater robotics club in Watsonville. He lives and works at home with his wife\, Pam\, near Monterey.\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-kurt-yeager/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250115T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250115T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20241216T195729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T215908Z UID:52112-1736964000-1736971200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Jeffery Gee and Team DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speakers: Dr. Jeffrey Gee and Team\nSPREAD (Southern Pacific Rise Eruptive Accretion Dynamics)\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \n\nThis winter\, a team of scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography\, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee\, Boise State University\, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution\, investigated the underwater geology of the Southern East Pacific Rise. This part of the ocean floor is where tectonic plates are spreading apart the fastest and new ocean floor is being produced. Examining this part of the ocean bed can help us better answer questions such as\, How is Earth’s outer layer made? How do volcanoes work underwater? Why is this process different in some places than in others? \nDuring their talk at the Ocean Institute\, members of the Scripps team will share their data and adventures! They will discuss life at sea\, what it’s like going down in the Alvin submarine\, how they map the ocean floor\, and why it all matters. They will also be bringing physical samples collected during their voyage for viewing!\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, January 15\, from 6:00 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Gee: \n\n\n\n\nI’m a professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. My research focuses on what we can learn about the Earth from the magnetization of rock samples and the magnetic anomalies generated above these rocks. These data provide information about how Earth’s magnetic field has changed over time and can yield insights into how new crust is generated at oceanic spreading centers—the goal of our present cruise. \nAlso joining us from Dr. Gee’s team: \nAnna Golub: \nI’m a graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. My research focuses on paleoceanography\, investigating past and present oceans and what they can teach us about each other. I am super excited to be along helping out on this cruise\, gaining experience with deep sea and geophysical research!\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-jeffery-gee-and-team/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20241106T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20241106T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20241002T230401Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241003T214126Z UID:49936-1730914200-1730923200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dean Sauer DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dean Sauer\nThe Disco Inferno in the Sea: The importance of phytoplankton and bioluminescence in our oceans\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nJoin the Ocean Institute in welcoming Dean Sauer\, the founder of PyroFarms\, and dive into the vibrant world of oceanic bioluminescence. We’ll explore the vital role of phytoplankton\, with a special focus on the bioluminescent species Pyrocystis fusiformis. Discover how these tiny marine plankton light up the seas and help support the entire ocean ecosystem and why they are far more than just glowing waves.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, November 6\, from 5:30 to 8:00 \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n About Dean: \n\n\n\n\nDean Sauer is an ocean lover\, science enthusiast\, entrepreneur\, and proud dad of two. He’s fascinated by all things that glow and finds joy in watching bioluminescent plankton light up the night. After years of research and working in biotech\, Dean decided to dive into the world of marine biology and founded PyroFarms\, a company dedicated to cultivating and sharing bioluminescent phytoplankton. When he’s not tinkering with his latest project\, you might find him lost in the mountains or roaming the beaches at night. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dean-sauer/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20241002T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20241002T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240905T214055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241002T210154Z UID:49625-1727890200-1727899200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Kelly Nguyen DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Kelly Nguyen\nNautical Archaeology and the Refugee Material Culture Initiative\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nFor this talk\, Kelly Nguyen will be discussing her new project\, the Refugee Material Culture Initiative (RMCI)\, which aims to 1) digitally preserve art and artifacts made/used by refugees\, 2) create a free and accessible database of the digital outputs\, and 3) generate educational resources on refugee histories. By centering refugee narratives and agency\, RMCI works to counter dehumanizing statistics and sensationalized visualizations that portray refugees as victims\, threats\, and/or problems to be solved. It is our expressed goal to feature the diversity and complexity of refugee experiences and to affirm that refugees are powerful knowledge producers. At this initial stage\, RMCI is working closely with a community partner\, the Vietnamese Heritage Museum located in Westminster\, CA\, to digitize their refugee artifact collection. Her presentation will showcase a small portion of the museum’s collection that have been 3D scanned\, including a refugee boat that fled the Vietnam War in 1984 and various items that were made and/or used by refugees.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, October 2\, from 5:30 to 8:00 \nThis event is now virtual! Attendance will be free. Please use the below link to tune in:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88938063764 \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Kelly: \n\n\n\n\nKelly Nguyen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics at UCLA. With training in archaeology\, ancient history and digital humanities\, as well as having worked in the tech and non-profit spaces\, she takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to both her teaching and her research. She is committed to bridging the academy and the community\, and especially strives to uplift those who are from underrepresented and under-resourced backgrounds. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-kelly-nguyen/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240904T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240904T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240724T172249Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240903T224750Z UID:49265-1725471000-1725480000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Hope in the Water DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Hope in the Water\nA screening of an episode from the new PBS series\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nThe world’s waters are abundant in wonder\, possibilities\, and hope. Join us as we screen an episode of the new PBS series The Hope in the Water. A docuseries travels the globe to discover the creative solutions and breakthrough blue food technologies that could not only feed us but help save our threatened seas and fresh waterways. The series highlights the stories of amazing innovators\, water farmers\, and fishers who are working toward a sustainable future for the planet. This three-part docuseries is brought to you by thirteen-time Emmy award-winning producer and writer David E. Kelley and four-time James Beard award and Emmy award winner\, Andrew Zimmern. Following the screening\, we will hear from a group of local experts on the importance of preserving our local blue food systems. How do we align protection with production when it comes to our California waters?  This will be followed by a reception (snacks and beverages available for purchase). Led by Jennifer Bushman\, Blue Foods advocate and executive impact advisor for the series and Co-Founder of Fed by Blue.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, September 4\, from 5:30 to 8:00 \n5:30-6:15 Cocktail Hour\n6:30- Opening Introduction\n6:35- Screening of Hope in the Water\n6:50- Panel\n7:10- Reception\n8:00 – End\n  \n$10 – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Jennifer: \n\n\n\n\n  \nJennifer Bushman is a sustainable seafood expert\, communicator\, and strategist who has been championing ethical aquaculture for more than two decades. She has been on a mission to transform the food system\, preserve the oceans\, nourish the world’s ever-growing population\, and offset carbon emissions. With those goals in mind\, she launched the Sea Pantry initiative which educates consumers on how to make responsible seafood choices every day. Food leaders such as the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals have recognized Jennifer’s culinary contributions as groundbreaking in terms of palate experience\, health benefits\, and climate impact. Because Jennifer believes that policy changemaking is as important as what we put on our plates\, she sits on the boards of numerous ocean advocacy organizations\, among which is Alexandra Cousteau’s Oceans 2050 and the Marine Mammal Center. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-hope-in-the-water/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240807T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240807T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240513T172627Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240725T154416Z UID:47267-1723053600-1723060800@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: David Helvarg DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: David Helvarg\n \n \n \n \n \n Can California Lead the World on Ocean Climate Action? \nA Talk by David Helvarg \nIn his presentation\, author\, journalist\, podcaster\, and Blue Frontier founder David Helvarg offers a unique perspective on changes to California’s coast and ocean in the decade since his book ‘The Golden Shore’ first came out. He’ll discuss his next book on Kelp and climate including the loss of 95 percent of northern California’s kelp forest and the documentary ‘Sequoias of the Sea’ his group is working on. He’ll talk about how they helped launch an Ocean Action Climate Plan adapted by the White House and reflect on sea otters\, aquaculture\, offshore wind and other challenges California now faces that he’s written about for the New York Times\, LA Times\, American Indian magazine and others. His public talks and Q&A offer an engaging balance of wonder\, warning and wry humor. \n  \nPaperback copies of ‘The Golden Shore’ will also be available. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, August 7 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About David Helvarg: \nDavid Helvarg is Executive Director of Blue Frontier\, an ocean conservation group\, the author of six non-fiction books\, and co-host of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast. He is the organizer of the Blue Vision Summit for ocean activists\, the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards (with Wendy Benchley)\, the first global March for the Ocean\, and helped launch the Ocean Climate Action Plan that contributed to major climate solution legislation. \nHelvarg worked as a war correspondent in Northern Ireland and Central America\, covered a range of issues from military strategy to the AIDS epidemic\, and reported from every continent including Antarctica. An award-winning journalist\, he produced more than 40 broadcast documentaries for PBS\, The Discovery Channel\, and others. His print work has appeared in The New York Times\, LA Times\, Smithsonian\, National Geographic\, and other outlets. He’s done radio work for Marketplace\, AP and Pacifica radio and led workshops for journalists in Poland\, Turkey\, Tunisia\, Slovakia\, and Washington DC. He is also a licensed private investigator\, bodysurfer and scuba diver. \n  \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-david-helvarg/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240724T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240724T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240612T154403Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240612T154408Z UID:48698-1721844000-1721851200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Chris Lowe DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Chris Lowe\n“Why are white sharks at my beach\, and can we safely share those waters?”\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nLearn from Dr. Lowe about his research studying White Sharks and their changing interactions with humans. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, July 24 \n6:00pm – 8:00pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm\, talk begins at 6:00pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Lowe: \n\n\n\n\n  \nDr. Chris Lowe has been studying sharks\, rays and bony fishes for over 30 years\, focusing on their behavior\, physiology and ecology.  For the last 15 years\, Dr. Lowe and his students have been studying juvenile white sharks off the coast of southern California.  Using a wide array of technology\, they have found that white sharks use southern California beaches seasonally as nursery habitat for their young.  This brings juvenile white sharks in close proximity to beach goers.  Dr. Lowe and his student use a wide array of technologies and educators to help lifeguards and the public understand the mysterious lives of sharks and just how much of a threat they may actually pose. \n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Website: Shark Lab | California State University Long Beach (csulb.edu) \nFacebook\, Twitter\, Instagram:  @csulbsharklab \n\n  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-chris-lowe-2/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240612T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240612T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240603T193504Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240605T153305Z UID:48118-1718213400-1718222400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Mark Girardeau DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Capture the Wild: An Evening with Renowned Wildlife Photographer\, Mark Girardeau\n \n \n \n \n \n Join Ocean Institute in welcoming Mark Girardeau as he shares his stories and experiences from photographing wildlife in Southern California; including his favorite photos taken locally and how he got them\, showing off some of his different camera equipment that captures images of mountain lions\, whales\, eagles and everything in between. Prints of Mark’s work will also be available for sale! \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, June 12 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n  \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Mark Girardeau: \nMark Girardeau is a nature photographer and wildlife naturalist who specializes in the local species of Southern California and Orange County. He created the Instagram account and website Orange County Outdoors to inform the public of the wildlife\, events\, beaches\, parks\, and other outdoor features the area has to offer. His work has been published internationally\, including in National Geographic. \nInstagram : @markgirardeau \nWebsite: Orange County Outdoors \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-mark-girardeau/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240515T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240515T203000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240319T215550Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240403T172146Z UID:46745-1715796000-1715805000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Drs. Kathryn Beheshti and Rachel Smith DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speakers: Drs. Kathryn Beheshti and Rachel Smith\n \n \n \n \n \n Join the Ocean Institute in welcoming Drs. Kathryn Beheshti and Rachel Smith as they share the lessons learned from 25 years of monitoring the world’s largest artificial reef\, Wheeler Reef North. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, May 15 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Drs. Kat Beheshti and Rachel Smith: \nDrs. Kat Beheshti and Rachel Smith are Assistant Researchers at the University of California\, Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute. Kat received her PhD from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of California\, Santa Cruz in 2021 and Rachel received her PhD from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia in 2019. As Co-Principal Investigators of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Mitigation Monitoring Program\, Kat and Rachel manage the long-term monitoring of Wheeler North Reef\, a 373-acre artificial reef located off the coast of San Clemente\, and the San Dieguito Wetlands\, a 150-acre wetland restoration located in Del Mar\, as well as the reference reefs and wetlands associated with each project. Coastal marine ecologists by training\, Kat and Rachel bring their expertise working in salt marsh\, mangrove\, oyster reef\, seagrass meadow\, and kelp forest systems to the SONGS program \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Wheeler Reef North: \nTo compensate for the coastal marine resources lost due to the operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Units 2 and 3\, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) required Southern California Edison (SCE) to mitigate for these losses. Part of the mitigation required construction and independent monitoring of an artificial reef (later named Wheeler North Reef) large enough to support 150 acres of medium-to-high density adult giant kelp and 28 tons of fish standing stock. \nTo inform the design of the mitigation reef\, a 25-acre experimental reef was built in 1999. The experimental reef addressed a series of unknowns regarding what reef configuration (substrate type\, substrate cover) would best support a kelp forest community and whether kelp could colonize the reef naturally or if out-planting kelp would be necessary. \nIn 2008\, the 150-acre mitigation reef was constructed and mitigation monitoring began in 2009. The mitigation reef allowed us to determine whether sea fans\, known to monopolize space on some artificial reefs\, excludes kelp on Wheeler North Reef and the years it would take for the community on Wheeler North Reef to resemble that of natural reefs. Lastly\, data from the mitigation reef showed that the Wheeler North Reef was too small to sustain a fish standing stock of 28 tons. As a result\, the CCC required SCE to add up to 210 acres of new reef– the remediation reef was constructed from 2019-2020 and added 198 acres to the reef. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-drs-kathryn-beheshti-and-rachel-smith/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240403T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240403T203000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240320T200517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240320T200520Z UID:46711-1712165400-1712176200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Jayme Smith DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Jayme Smith\n \n \n \n \n \n Dive into the hidden depths with Dr. Jayme Smith as she unveils the mysterious world of phytoplankton\, the microscopic powerhouses at the heart of our marine ecosystems. Discover their vital role in sustaining life and the perilous impact of their dark side: harmful algal blooms (HABs) that threaten marine life and human health. In this enlightening talk\, Dr. Smith will explore the increasing global occurrence of HABs\, their effects on southern California’s waters\, and the cutting-edge research aimed at mitigating their impact. Join us for a journey into the microscopic world\, where the smallest organisms tell the ocean’s biggest stories. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, April 3 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Jayme Smith: \nWith a storied career dedicated to the study of HABs\, Dr. Smith’s research focuses on understanding the conditions that foster these toxic events in marine and freshwater systems\, and their broader ecological and health impacts. Having earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Southern California\, Dr. Smith has worked collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and resource managers to make exciting advancements in HAB monitoring and research in California. Her talk promises to takeattendees on a deep dive into the world of phytoplankton\, the foundational organisms of the marine food web\, their role in oxygen production\, and the dual threat they pose through the production of harmful toxins. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-jayme-smith/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240306T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240306T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20240116T231732Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240301T215805Z UID:45691-1709746200-1709755200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Chris Zadra DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Chris Zadra\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nJoin us on a dive into the fascinating world of marine mammal research and conservation led by Chris Zadra\, the innovative mind behind Ocean Alliance’s cutting-edge Drones for Whale Research Program\, featured in renowned documentaries like National Geographic’s One Strange Rock and BBC’s Blue Planet Live. \nDinner will be provided by Taste Collective (food truck) and is sponsored by Knobbe Martens\, a sponsor of the Ocean Institute. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, March 6 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Chris Zadra: \nWhile studying engineering at Lehigh University\, Chris became interested in building and flying drones. He turned that interest into a career\, flying drones over whales for the Ocean Alliance’s Drones for Whale Research program.  \nChris has traveled the globe studying whales via drone\, from Mexico to British Columbia to Gabon.  \nInstead of invasive techniques like darting\, the drone collects samples by flying over the whale’s blow\, with a rig aptly named the SnotBot. The drones can also be used to drop tracking devices that stick to the whale’s back for a short period\, providing data on their life under the surface.  \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ninstagram: @snotbot \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-chris-zadra/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231206T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231206T203000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20231031T161020Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231114T180646Z UID:39528-1701883800-1701894600@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Ocean Institute Town Hall: A Seaside Chat DESCRIPTION:Join us for a milestone event\, the inaugural Town Hall: A Seaside Chat\, on Wednesday\, December 6 at 6PM\, where the Ocean Institute’s esteemed Board members and leadership team will engage with our community and share exciting updates. Collie James\, our new Board Chair\, will offer insights into the Institute’s promising future in marine education and conservation. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Seaside Chat\n\nThe Ocean Institute Town Hall: A Seaside Chat is gearing up to feature a dynamic panel of four distinguished speakers. Leading the conversation is Collie James\, the Ocean Institute Board Chair\, who will bring his leadership and deep understanding and connection to the Ocean Institute to the forefront. Tom Turner\, a dedicated Board Member and the OCDE Chief Academic Officer\, will offer insight into the integral educational mission of OI. Kelly Steward\, another esteemed Board Member and the General Manager at Ritz-Carlton\, will provide valuable perspectives on hospitality and guest services as we gear up for our public programs in 2024.  \n\n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule for Event: \n5:30pm – 6:00pm Meet and Mingle \n6:00pm – 7:30pm Panel Presentation/ Q&A \n7:30pm – 8:30pm Socialize and Connect \n \n RSVP URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/ocean-institute-town-hall-a-seaside-chat/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Upcoming END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231101T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231101T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20230922T214719Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231024T235524Z UID:38012-1698861600-1698868800@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Carlos Gauna DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics that align with our monthly themes. \n\nAdmission includes light snacks and refreshments.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Carlos Gauna\nGauna will talk about the process of filming white sharks\, from finding them to understanding their behaviors. His presentation will offer live time observations into the nature of these animals\, with a plethora of locally filmed material! He will also speak on how his observations are becoming a part of a greater picture in data collection on various shark species\, underscoring the benefit of citizen science. In addition to the science\, Gauna will give a ‘behind the scenes’ description of the filming and editing process in his artwork\, along with examples of the various types of equipment he uses. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, November 1 \n6:00pm – 8:30pm \nDoors open at 5:30pm \nGeneral – $10 \nMembers – FREE \nStudents (with valid ID) – FREE \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n  About Carlos \nCarlos Gauna\, locally known as The Malibu Artist\, is a photographer\, observer\, and ocean advocate. After COVID limited job opportunities as a wedding photographer\, Gauna began aerial filming the famed Malibu coastline. His work now involves filming the little-known lives of Californias’ great white sharks by drone. Through countless hours of filming\, his art has bridged into the realm of science\, a testament to the growing importance of citizen science. Thanks to the videos captured by Gauna\, Calfiornias’ white sharks are getting the recognition deserved as ecologically important and misunderstood animals. He has submitted much of his observations and footage to scientists all over\, helping them accumulate the data to understand and protect these species. In addition to sharks\, Gauna has documented the behavior of marine mammals\, sea birds\, and rare open ocean fish. His work is generously available to all on YouTube (@TheMalibuArtist)\, with thousands of hours of film and observation. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-carlos-guana/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Upcoming END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231004T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231004T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104136 CREATED:20230922T213933Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230922T233245Z UID:38004-1696442400-1696449600@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Milt and Ann McMenamin DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Milt and Ann McMenamin\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \n “Amazing Tales of Whales\, Dolphins\, and Secrets of the Deep” \nOcean Institute volunteers Dr. Milt and Ann McMenamin have traveled the world on top cruise lines as professional lecturers\, naturalists\, and actors. Their careers have crossed many realms\, including education\, travel writing\, and TV and radio production. \nThe McMenamins will share their first-hand experiences with whales and interactions between these amazing ocean animals and humans. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, October 4 \n6:00 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dr. Milt and Ann McMenamin: \n \n\n\n\n\nAnn & Milt are Ocean Institute’s current longest standing volunteers with 2023 marking their 25-year anniversary. They began volunteering with Ocean Institute in 1998 and have continued to educate hundreds of thousands of children\, parents\, and families along the way. The McMenamins are our resident whale experts\, perhaps best known at OI for their whale talks given every Saturday at 1pm. Over their 25 years at OI they have each donated nearly 5\,000 hours of their time to educating our visitors. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-dr-milt-and-ann-mcmenamin/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230906T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230906T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104137 CREATED:20230807T225834Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230807T225841Z UID:37573-1694021400-1694030400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Laura Frank DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Laura Frank\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nThis talk will look beyond marine protected areas and conservation to explore the concepts of wholistic sustainable ocean management. There are many human uses of the ocean that need to be balanced with environmental health\, and we will discuss the concept and importance of using Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to achieve this balance. We will dive into examples from the pacific island nation of Tonga who are leaders in regional efforts toward protecting the environment\, supporting local communities\, and developing their blue economy through their MSP program. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, September 6 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Laura Frank: \nLaura is the Assistant Director and Tonga Program Lead at the Waitt Institute based in La Jolla\, CA. She supports Tonga’s efforts to conserve 30% of their ocean space and sustainably manage their EEZ through Marine Spatial Planning. She provides core support to the Institute whose work engages governments and NGO’s around the world. Laura was previously a researcher in the Genetics\, Aquaculture\, and Physiology group at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center\, and a California Sea Grant State Fellow at the Unified Port of San Diego where she supported several environmental conservation\, blue economy\, and mitigation banking projects. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communication: Advertising and Public Relations from Emerson College and a Master of Science in Marine Science from the University of San Diego where she focused on applied physiology research for yellowtail aquaculture. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-laura-frank/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230802T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230802T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104137 CREATED:20230626T182119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230729T035304Z UID:36703-1690997400-1691006400@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Captain Brett McBride DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Brett McBride\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nCaptain Brett McBride will be at the Ocean Institute to share his story as a mariner\, waterman and fisherman\, as part of the Ocearch Shark Research Team. McBride has spent a lifetime on the ocean\, and has a wealth of exciting stories from his years working on private yachts\, to jumping into the water with massive sharks for vital research.  \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, August 2 \n5:30 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Brett McBride: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrett McBride\, a dedicated mariner and waterman\, has spent the majority of his life surrounded by or in the water. Growing up in San Diego\, he filled his time with fishing\, surfing\, and breath-hold spearfishing. At the age of five\, McBride became captivated by fishing after his first offshore fishing experience on the 65′ New Lo-An. From that point on\, he aspired to become a boat captain. At twelve years old\, he got his first opportunity to work on the 65′ sport fisher. Throughout his junior high and high school years\, he spent weekends and summers working on open party and \nlong-range sport fishers\, before transitioning to private yacht-fishers and broadening his exploration horizons.McBride spent a few seasons fishing along the coast of Baja\, California before permanently relocating to Cabo San Lucas\, Mexico\, where he called home for the next 21 years. \nOver the following decade\, Brett served as a deckhand or captain on various sportfishing boats and long-range yacht-fishers\, covering locations from Panama to Alaska and everything in between. During this time\, he devoted much of his attention to fishing marlin tournaments in Southern California and Mexico\, as well as spearfishing. In the early days of spearfishing\, building one’s own speargun was often necessary to obtain a decent one. Brett constructed his first speargun while in high school and continues to build them to this day. His passion for spearfishing led him to develop an interest in underwater filming.He purchased a waterproof housing for his video camera and started capturing his underwater trips. As he continued filming both above and below the water on long-range trips from Costa Rica to Panama\, Brett became increasingly fascinated with creating professional videos to showcase life at sea. \nIn 1998\, Brett received a job offer to run a 48′ sportfisher from a friend who connected him with entrepreneur Chris Fischer. Sharing a passion for the ocean\, they embarked on a partnership\, and when Chris upgraded his boat to a 72′ custom yacht-fisher\, they began their journey in creating outdoor television aboard the 72′ GO FISCH. Their collaboration resulted in “Offshore Adventures”\, an Emmy Award-winning show that dominated outdoor television ratings for 14 consecutive seasons on ESPN Outdoors. They also produced “Ocean Hunter\,” a show with a focus on spearfishing that aired on ESPN Outdoors. \nA pivotal shift in their work occurred when Fischer purchased the 126′ Bering Sea crab fishing vessel\, now known as OCEARCH. In 2010\, Chris asked Brett if they could assist scientists in capturing and releasing adult white sharks at Guadalupe Island. Brett accepted\, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey. The initial trip was a success and led to the \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ndevelopment of Shark Men\, a television series that showcased the scientific fieldwork involved in the White Shark Tagging efforts of the OCEARCH team. Since its inception\, OCEARCH has completed 45 expeditions around the globe. McBride drew upon his lifetime of water experience to develop the fishing methods used by OCEARCH’s team\, and has played a vital role in the capture\, handling\, and release of over 400 animals studied by OCEARCH. His expertise and leadership has provided researchers across the globe with unprecedented access to study our oceans’ apex predators and push science further. McBride appreciates all the gifts the ocean has given him over his lifetime and aspires to keep the ocean healthy through the conservation efforts of OCEARCH. \ninstagram: @captbrettmcbride \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click here for our Refund and Ticket Transfer Policy. URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-brett-mcbride/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230705T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230705T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104137 CREATED:20230623T223924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230623T224651Z UID:36674-1688580000-1688587200@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Oriana Poindexter DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Oriana Poindexter\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nThe Art and Science of Southern California Kelp Forests  \nOriana Poindexter is a photographer and marine scientist focused on the intersection of art\, science\, and marine natural resources. \n \nJoin Oriana at the Ocean Institute to learn more about her amazing marine photography and artwork\, including a sneak peek at her upcoming exhibit! \nOriana will also be selling some of her pieces at the event! \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, July 5 \n6:00 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Oriana Poindexter: \n \n\n\n\n\nOriana earned her degrees at Princeton University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. She went on to work for nearly a decade with academic institutions\, government agencies\, and environmental organizations as an expert in the sustainable seafood and fisheries management arenas. \nHer work has been featured by the Getty Museum and The Wall Street Journal\, and she has created interpretive visual exhibits for the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Birch Aquarium. She founded Pelagic Projects in 2020 to focus on interdisciplinary projects that engage the senses\, inspire awe\, and impact positive change for the oceans. \nOriana is based in San Diego\, CA\, where she is working on her first book\, The Iridescent Ones\, to visualize the natural and cultural history of abalone species on the Pacific West Coast.  \n  \nSocial handles: \n@opoindex on Instagram  \nWebsite: https://www.orianapoindexter.com/ URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-oriana-poindexter/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230607T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230607T200000 DTSTAMP:20260822T104137 CREATED:20230515T210551Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230515T210554Z UID:36042-1686160800-1686168000@oceaninstitute.org SUMMARY:Distinguished Speaker Series: Lance Lee Davis DESCRIPTION:The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series\, presented by the Nicholas Endowment\, brings interesting innovations\, real-world research\, exotic experiences\, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers\, ocean authors\, ocean artists\, and ocean athletes. \nLight snacks & Refreshments available for purchase at event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Distinguished Speaker: Lance Lee Davis\n \n \n \n \n \n Description: \nExploring the ocean with one breath! \nLearn about Lance Lee Davis and his journey to become a professional freediver! \nLance will be sharing stories from his career as a freediver\, from competitions\, to record breaking dives\, to diving for movies and television. \n \n \n \n \n \n Wednesday\, June 7 \n6:00 pm – 8:00 pm \nDoors open at 5:30 pm\, and talk begins at 6:00 pm \n$10  – General \nFREE – Members \nFREE – Students (with Valid ID) \n \n \n Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Lance Lee Davis: \n\n\n\n\n“I have been swimming in the ocean since infancy and swam competitively for 11 years.  While I do hold recreational SCUBA and nitrox certifications\, my passion has always been freediving.  My deepest freedives to date are 242′ (74M)\, constant weight without fins\, as well as 80M done constant weight with bi-fins.  Official records I currently hold include the US National Record in CNF at 74M\, as well as one apnea related Guinness World Record.  Besides competitive freediving\, I do love to spearfish\, and got my start with ‘real freediving’ while hunting the Southern California ocean in around 2010.  I’m now into my seventh year as a full time professional freediver\, having since then earned my US Coast Guard captain’s license\, worked as a freediver on numerous film and TV projects\, and been teaching under both Performance Freediving International and Molchanov’s.” \n  \nSocial handles: \n@socalspearit on Instagram and Facebook  \nWebsite: http://www.socalspearit.com  URL:https://oceaninstitute.org/event/distinguished-speaker-series-lance-lee-davis/ CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR