Please join us for this opportunity to learn from marine and aquatic educators, scientists, traditional knowledge practitioners, and other industry professionals. Speakers will share experiences, educational tips and stories from the field. Registration is required; after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please contact us at info@pacname.org if you have any questions or problems with the meeting link, or if you are interested in being a presenter.
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Upcoming Speakers
Monday April 13 @ 7:30PM PT
What Seabirds Can Tell Us About Oregon’s Dynamic Coastal Ecosystems
Will Kennerley
OSU Seabird Oceanography Lab
Our oceans and coasts are vast and dynamic, making understanding their underlying processes and predicting future conditions highly challenging. Seabirds, however, cross the boundary between land and sea and can be a highly-visible and insightful window into the workings of the ever-changing Oregon Coast. Will Kennerley shares about some of the work done by OSU’s Seabird Oceanography Lab as they attempt to use seabirds to better understand coastal ecosystems. Murres, cormorants, eagles, and puffins all provide insight into the oceanographic forces, changing fish communities, and effects of humans (both good and bad) along our scenic coastline.
Will Kennerley is a faculty research assistant in the Seabird Oceanography Lab at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR. He works on diverse research projects related to seabird ecology and conservation. These projects include monitoring breeding seabirds at Yaquina Head, performing at sea surveys for Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and he acts as the lead contact for the “Birds with Fish” community science initiative.
Previous Speakers
February 2026
How to Attract a Mate: Lessons from the Animal Kingdom
Sue Nightingale
Bellevue College
Perfect for post-Valentine’s Day, Sue Nightingale will share a presentation on the methods animals use to attract mates, and how these tactics might, or might not, be useful for humans. You’ll learn about colors, tusks, croaks and ‘sneaks’. Suitable for any age, though discussion of mating and some PG-13 images will be included.
Sue Nightingale is a Professor of Biology and Oceanography at Bellevue College located just east of Seattle. She has a MS in Fisheries from the University of Washington and has been teaching introductory science students for over 30 years.
January 2026
Restoring a Keystone Species: Bringing Sea Otters Back to Oregon
Chanel Hason
Elakha Alliance
Join Chanel Hason, Director of Outreach and Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance, for an engaging presentation about the organization’s efforts to restore sea otters to the Oregon coast. Discover how these charismatic marine mammals are vital to the health of our coastal ecosystems, the history behind their disappearance, and the collaborative work being done to bring them back. Learn how you can support this critical conservation mission and help make a lasting impact on Oregon’s marine environment.
Chanel Hason is a marine biologist, environmental educator, and passionate ocean advocate serving as the Director of Outreach & Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance. With a background that includes working with sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, conducting marine research on the Great Barrier Reef, and educating communities about the wonders of the natural world, Chanel brings science to life with energy and heart. At Elakha, she leads public engagement efforts to support the restoration of sea otters to the Oregon coast – reviving an essential keystone species to help restore balance to nearshore ecosystems. Whether she’s giving a science pub talk, running a fundraiser, or tabling at community events, Chanel loves inspiring people to fall in love with sea otters and the kelp forests they call home.
November 2025
Black and White and Wet All Over
Ann Nightingale
Rocky Point Bird Observatory
While the landlubbers stress over identifying “little brown birds,” ocean watchers are faced with similar challenges with the seemingly endless variety of black and white blobs that always dive just as you get your binoculars or cameras on them. Join Ann Nightingale for a slide-illustrated talk on both common and rarer seabirds of the Pacific Northwest. Ann will also share information on resources to help you get to know your local birds better.
Ann Nightingale is a well-known birder and volunteer for Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria, BC. She is a frequent speaker at community events, and has coordinated the Victoria Christmas Bird Count for more than twenty years.
October 2025
Ocean on the Move: Connecting Communities Through Mobile Marine Outreach
Tristyn Hay
Biology Program Manager and Outreach Coordinator, University of British Columbia Okanagan
Join Tristyn to explore how marine outreach programs can connect with rural communities using traveling aquaria and live marine animals. Tristyn will share key lessons from bringing ocean education to remote areas and highlight simple, effective ways to recruit and keep volunteers who support these programs. Attendees will walk away with practical ideas for growing outreach efforts and building strong, lasting community connections.
Tristyn Hay is the Biology Program Manager and Outreach Coordinator at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where she leads marine mobile biology programs across the province. She is passionate about ocean literacy and conservation, bringing live marine animals and traveling aquaria to both coastal and remote communities to inspire connection and care for the ocean. Her work is guided by the belief that we protect what we feel connected to, and connection begins with knowledge.
Virtual Speaker Series Archive
View recorded talks from previous seasons on the following archived pages.
- Connecting youth to the ocean through near-peer mentoring—Regina Cozzi, St. Francis Xavier University
- 20,000 Sensors Under the Sea: Ocean Networks Canada and K-12 Education—Nick Hammar & Lauren Hudson, Ocean Networks Canada
- Eelgrass as Teacher—Nikki Wright, SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
- Sea Stars of the West Coast—Phil Lambert, Royal BC Museum
- Ecology of Killer Whale Ecotypes along the Pacific Coast—Josh McInnes, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
- Kelp Forests in a Warming Ocean—Brian Timmer, University of Victoria
- Ocean Cultures: Northwest Coast Ecosystems and Indigenous Management Systems—Nancy Turner, University of Victoria, Retired
- Starting the conversation about sea otter reintroduction—Michelle St. Martin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 3D Mapping of Puget Sound Shoreline—Brian Footen, Earth View Society
- Antarctic Adventures with Adopt-a-Float—Jennifer Magnusson, GO-BGC/MBARI
- “Wildernizing” our Youth with the Alaska Tides to Tongass Science and Arts Academy—Michaela Larson, Julia Trischman, Trick Trischman, Alaska Tides to Tongass Science and Arts Academy
- King Tides—Bridget Trosin, Washington Sea Grant, and Jesse Jones, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition
- An Introduction to ShoreZone with Sarah Cook—Sarah Cook, ShoreZone
- Engaging Youth in Environmental Justice—Mindy Chappell, Youth Participatory Science Collective
- A Conversation with Nuu-Chah-Nulth artist Hjalmer Wenstob—Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob, Nuu-Chah-Nulth artist
- Building and Writing Whales—Peter Wayne Moe, Seattle Pacific University
- Urgent Message from a Hot Planet, An Evening with Author Ann Eriksson—BC author Ann Eriksson
- More Joy – Less Stress in the Classroom—Kristy Banks, special education teacher in Seattle
- The Oregon King Tides Project—Jesse Jones, CoastWatch
- Flukes, Fins, & Blows: Whale ID 101—Aaron Purdy, Southern Vancouver Island Cetacean Research Initiative (Ocean Wise)
- Pumping with Passion: The Importance of Heart-Based Connection—Savannah Smith and Ebony Welborn, Sea Potential
- The Elwha Nearshore 10 Years After Dam Removal: Whats New and Different, and What Looks the Same—Ian Miller, Washington Sea Grant: Coastal Hazard Specialist, Olympic Peninsula
- Oh the stories the beach can tell!—Alan Rammer, WA Department of Fisheries, retired
- Frozen Sunlight Series: Connecting Ecological Research with Indigenous Knowledge—Janet Clarke, Sitka Sound Science Center
- Seabed Mining: “The Dawn of an Industry” and the need for a precautionary approach—Lee First, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper, and Liz Schotman, Surfrider Foundation
- Astonishing Annelids—Dr. Louise Page, University of Victoria
- Investigating Crayfish + Freshwater Ecosystems Online—Janice Elvidge, National Park Service, Rick Reynolds, Engaging Every Student, and Jim Ekins, University of Idaho Extension Service IDAH2O Master Water Stewards program
- Virtual Field Trips: Exploring and Sharing Our Local Ecology—Kay Shoemaker, Rosemary Anderson High School
- Kayaking the Salish Sea During a Pandemic—Giovannina Souers, Environmental Education Program Supervisor City of Seattle, and Woody Moses, Highline College
- Monitoring Axial SeaMount: Research techniques for 1500 meters Beneath the Surface—Bill Hanshumaker, OSU Researcher Emeritus