REEF Fest 2025 Seminars

Seminars - Full lineup and dates/times coming soon!

"Can Reef Tanks Save Coral? Hobbyists and the future of the healthy ocean"
Presented by Sam Muka, Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Stevens Institute of Technology

Keeping coral in tanks is a fairly new practice, but it has big implications for the ability to study and conserve coral. This talk will trace the history of coral reef tanks, from the earliest practitioners in Indonesia, to the present. Join us to learn how hobbyists have influenced the design and process of coral conservation over time, and how they continue to contribute to current practices. She'll draw on her expertise from her book "Oceans under Glass: Tank Craft and the Sciences of the Sea," which evaluates the role that aquariums play in how we understand the ocean. Used to investigate an array of scientific questions, from animal behavior to cancer research and climate change, they are a crucial factor in the fight to mitigate the climate disaster already threatening our seas.

"Tracking Shark and Ray Sightings Across the Caribbean: Insights from decades of citizen science data"
Presented by Brendan Talwar, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Shark and ray populations have seen major declines in recent decades, especially in the Caribbean. In the 2000s, scientists used REEF survey data to reveal these troubling trends. Today, researchers like Brendan have revisited that data (spanning from 1993 to 2024) to better understand how sightings of sharks and rays have changed over time. By analyzing patterns across regions and years, the team has created long-term snapshots of the most commonly seen species. They also explored what happens after countries establish Shark Sanctuaries, where sharks and ray fishing is banned. Brendan will discuss this shark and ray research and highlight how it provides vital insights for conservation, tourism, and sustainable fishing.

"Why I Cave Dive When There’s No Fish: An introduction to the world of cave diving"
Presented by Nat Gibb, Cave Explorer, Underwater Photographer and Videographer

When people hear that Natalie Gibb is a professional diver, they often picture her swimming through blue water over reefs of colorful fish. When they learn that she’s a professional cave diver, the reaction is a blank stare - but she understands this, because she never though cave diving sounded like a good idea until she tried it herself. Captivated by the experience, she moved to Mexico and has spent the past 20 years devoting her life to cave diving and exploration. In this seminar, Natalie will share her imagery, stories, and passion for the dark side of diving.

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Brendan Talwar has worked around the world - from The Bahamas to Fiji to Australia - researching sharks and rays, and sharing that journey with students and the public along the way. He is based in Southern California, where he is a postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Brendan works in the Semmens Lab on research that supports real-world ocean management. Their projects range from studying shark bycatch with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, to investigating toxicant pollution in local marine fishes, to analyzing citizen science data from REEF to support marine conservation. He is passionate about building a future with healthy, sustainable fisheries and looks forward to doing his part to help make that future a reality.