national marine sanctuaries foundation | capitol hill ocean week 2020

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation hosted the first virtual Capitol Hill Ocean Week on June 9, 2020. The conference focused on the value of protecting biodiversity in our aquatic ecosystems, and highlighted how people, communities, governments, and businesses are working across disciplines to protect and restore ecosystems and species.

I had the honor of joining a panel on Inspiring Action with Media and Art, which focused on ways in which art and media can bring biodiversity issues to new audiences and inspire conservation action.

Moderated by Dr. Barbara Matilsky, (Curator of Art, Whatcom Museum), the speakers included myself, Dr. Jonatha Giddens, (Ocean Ecologist and National Geographic Fellow),Angela Haseltine Pozzi (Executive/Artistic Director/Founder, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea), Courtney Mattison (Ceramic Sculptor + Ocean Advocate, Our Changing Seas Exhibitions), Ian Shive (Director, Hidden Pacific 3D & Founder, Tandem Stills + Motion, Inc.), and Brian Skerry (Photojournalist and Fellow, National Geographic).

We discussed how visual media can be used to reveal the hidden wonders of our ocean and connect viewers empathically with the natural world. Art and media can be used to more holistically communicate one’s experience of nature, and to engage volunteers in conservation work.

Check out the video recording here: