The Future of Oceans lecture series
Our lecture series, The Future of Oceans, draws on the commitment of professional researchers and educators across all academic spectrums to help define and inspire the health of our oceans.
Thank you to the Darrow Family for their ongoing support.
General information
- The lectures will take place at the Fort Worden Chapel, unless otherwise noted, starting at 3 p.m.
- To keep this series accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for the event; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated.
- Assisted listening devices are available.
2023 – 2024 lecture series
Lecture – “Sea Otter Stories – history, ecology & conservation”
Join us for the Future of Oceans lecture “Sea Otter Stories – history, ecology & conservation” .
Fort Worden Chapel
Presented by James Bodkin
U.S. Geological Survey
Lecture – “Thalassophilic Impressions: Nautical Pursuits, Ocean Conservation, and the Confluence of Art and Science”
Join us for the Future of Oceans lecture “Thalassophilic Impressions: Nautical Pursuits, Ocean Conservation, and the Confluence of Art and Science”.
Fort Worden Chapel
Presented by Nam Siu
Local naturalist and artist
Lecture and presenter information coming soon!
Join us for another Future of Oceans lecture, this time via Zoom. More information coming soon!
Via Zoom
Past lecture recordings
You can watch – or watch again – any of the speakers from the previous series.
2023-2024 lecture series
“Bringing up Baby Stars: Captive Breeding of the Endangered Sunflower Star for Research and Restoration”
Lecture presented on October 8, 2023, by
Dr. Jason Hodin
Univ. of Washington Senior Research Scientist
Friday Harbor Labs
YouTube link coming soon
“Fossils of Western Washington: a Marine Perspective”
Lecture presented on November 12, 2023, by
Dr. Liz Nesbitt
Univ. of Washington and Burke Museum
and David B. Williams
Curatorial Associate, Burke Museum
YouTube link coming soon
Listen to their interview with the Nature Now podcast on KPTZ.
2022-2023 lecture Series
“Gray Whales in Washington State: Three Groups, Three Stories, From Death to Promise”
Lecture presented on March 12, 2023, by
John Calambokidis, Senior Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective
YouTube link
“Hybrid in a Haystack: Hybrid Beachgrass Discovery, Description, and Ecological Consequences in the Pacific Northwest”
Lecture presented on February 5, 2023, by
Rebecca Mostow, Education Program Manager, Western Flyer Foundation
YouTube link
“Stage 8 Restoration: The How’s and Why’s of NOSC’s Upcoming River Restoration Work”
Lecture presented on January 29, 2023, by
Kevin Long, Project Manager, North Olympic Salmon Coalition
YouTube link
“Recovering Pinto Abalone: Use of Conservation Aquaculture to Give the Salish Sea’s Largest Rocky-Reef Cleaning Marine Snail a Population Boost”
Lecture presented on January 22, 2023, by
Josh Bouma, Abalone Program Director, Puget Sound Restoration Fund
YouTube link
“2022 Update on the Status of the Invasive European Green Crab in Washington State”
Lecture presented on December 4, 2022, by
Neil Harrington, Environmental biologist, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
YouTube link
“Of Puffins and Petrels: Conserving Seabirds of the Salish Sea and Outer Coast of Washington”
Lecture presented on November 20, 2022, by
Dr. Peter Hodum, Professor of Biology, University of Puget Sound
YouTube link
“Deep Sea Mining is Coming: What You Need to Know About This Potentially Huge New Industry”
Lecture presented on November 13, 2022, by
Dr. Christopher Kelley, Ocean biologist, retired
YouTube link
2021-2022 lecture series
“Preventing Extinction – The Story of Southern Resident Orcas”
Lecture presented on June 12, 2022, by
Cindy Hansen, Education & Advocacy Coordinator at Orca Network
YouTube link
“We Are Puget Sound: Discovering and Recovering the Salish Sea”
Lecture presented on January 23, 2022, by
Mindy Roberts, Puget Sound Program Director at Washington Environmental Council
Joe Gaydos, Science Director, SeaDoc Society
Brian Footen, founder and principal of Earthviews
YouTube link
“Southern Resident Killer Whales: Status, Trends, Solutions”
Lecture presented on October 17, 2021,
by Lynda Mapes
Journalist, the Seattle Times
Author of Orcas: Shared Waters, Shared Home
YouTube link
2020-2021 lecture series
“In Deeper Waters: Exploring Earth’s Largest, Yet Least Understood, Biome”
Lecture presented on November 8, 2020,
by Dr. Christopher Kelley
Hawai’i Undersea Research Laboratory
University of Hawai’i
YouTube link
“Immersions in the World of Kelp”
Lecture presented on December 13, 2020,
by Betsy Peabody
Executive director of Puget Sound Restoration Fund
YouTube link
“What Eelgrass and Other Marine Vegetation Can Tell Us About the Future of the Ocean”
Lecture presented on January 10, 2021
by Dr. Ronald Thom
Staff Scientist Emeritus Marine Sciences Lab,
Pacific Northwest National Lab
YouTube link
“What Can Puffins Tell Us About the Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems?”
Lecture presented on March 14, 2021
by John F. Piatt, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Seabird and Forage Fish Ecology Program Leader,
USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage AK
YouTube link