CHOW Plenary Deep Dive: Living Laboratories: Ocean Economy Conservation and Acceleration
Biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing issues facing our ocean and our planet.
The ocean is home to much of the world’s biodiversity, but species loss is occurring at an alarming rate around the world due to human impacts. This challenge is compounded by and closely intertwined with the dual threats of climate change and social inequities.
Biodiversity provides benefits for human communities and economies, but we cannot protect what we don’t know- and we can’t do it alone.
More than 95 percent of our ocean remains unexplored. New investments in advanced tools and “Blue Tech” by entrepreneurs, marine science laboratories, and technology incubators will help fill data gaps and improve decision-making. Leaders will need to quickly be able to adapt to new or unconventional ways of thinking from the private sector and the kinds of regulation and rapid iteration that will be necessary to accelerate these solutions.
New national policies on marine biodiversity and eDNA will help managers make strategic decisions about protected areas that are ecologically representative, foster habitat connectivity, and consider changing coastal and marine systems.
During Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024, the “Living Laboratories: Ocean Economy Conservation and Acceleration” plenary session will discuss how break-through leadership will allow the technological advancements we need to succeed, and how we can include local communities in these new science and technology solutions.
Join us for the “Living Laboratories: Ocean Economy Conservation and Acceleration” plenary, hosted by Oceankind, for this discussion.
The panel will be moderated by Dr. Jane Lubchenco (White House Office of Science and Technology Policy). The panel features Dr. Ellen Stofan (Smithsonian Institution), Julie Pullen, Ph.D. (Propeller Ventures), Michael J. Weise (Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy); Paul Bunje, Ph.D. (Conservation X Labs), and Phillip Levin, Ph.D. (National Nature Assessment), with closing remarks from Jillian Stanton (eeBlue Young Changemakers Fellow).
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 6th from 3-4:00 PM EST and register to join the conversation during Capitol Hill Ocean Week.