Seattle Climate Tech: Oct 20 - Oct 27

One Ocean Week events, nature as a source of healing, and strategies to build a more diverse climate community--lots to check out!

Oct 20, 2025

Hi Climate Community,

We’ve got plenty of opportunities to dive into important marine-related topics and work (‘cause we love the ocean! 🌊😘), and don’t miss an opportunity to learn about local strategies to build more inclusive climate policies.

As always, scroll down for the full list of upcoming events.

Cheers,

~ Jason

🌊Marine Debris Impacts and Solutions: Mon, Oct 20
🌍Bridging the Gap: Turning Research into Real-World Solutions: Mon, Oct 20
🌊Designing Equitable Ocean Technologies: Wed, Oct 22
🐟Hope in the Water: The Role of Aquaculture in Sustainable Blue Food Systems: Wed, Oct 22
🌲UW College of the Environment: Nature Heals: Wed, Oct 22
🌊Blue Horizon: The One Ocean Innovation Showcase: Thurs, Oct 23
🗺️How to Build Inclusive Policy: Lessons Learned from Climate Work in Diverse WA Communities: Thurs, Oct 23
🦦The State of Elliott Bay Habitat: Thurs, Oct 23
⛵The Vast and Deep Ocean: Fri, Oct 24

Upcoming Events

🚃Future of Transportation in the Region Panel: Thurs, Oct 30
🏭Bob Wyss presents ‘Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal’: Tues, Nov 4
📈Getting Out of the Sales Slump: a Go-To-Market Tea Party for Climatists: Wed, Nov 5
🎸Investigating Solarpunk, Part 2: Definitions, Metrics, and Structures: Wed, Nov 5
📖Jessica Hernandez presents ‘Growing Papaya Trees’: Tues, Nov 11

This Week in Depth

🌊Marine Debris Impacts and Solutions

When: Mon, Oct 20th, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

Join us for a community event highlighting Washington’s marine debris challenges and solutions. Together, we’ll explore the impacts of plastic pollution on our coastlines and waters, showcase local efforts to prevent and remove debris, and share ways we can all take action to protect the ocean.
Speakers:
(Host) Dr. Lyda Harris, Pelagic Impact
Andrew Mason, NOAA Marine Debris Program
Julie Masura, University of Washington Tacoma
Tanya Balaji, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Dr. Adrian Tan, King County Solid Waste Division
Brantlee & Jonathan Conell, Praxseas

🌍Bridging the Gap: Turning Research into Real-World Solutions

When: Mon, Oct 20th, 2:30pm-4:00pm
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

Dive into the cutting edge of ocean innovation with this dynamic panel featuring leading faculty innovators from the University of Washington who are transforming research into real-world impact. From carbon capture sustainable water reclamation, and underwater sonar advancement, these innovators are bridging the gap between academic discovery and applied solutions.
Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores how UW researchers are tackling some of the ocean’s most pressing challenges. Panelists will share their insights on navigating the path from the lab to the marketplace and bringing visionary research out of the university and into the word. Whether you’re a student, academic, entrepreneur, or ocean enthusiast, this session will spark new ways of thinking about scientific research, sustainability, and the future of our oceans.
Panelists:
🌊 Alex Gagnon Associate Professor, School of Oceanography | Co-Founder and CEO, Banyu Carbon
💧 Mari Winkler John R. Kiley Endowed Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
🔊 Steve Kahle Senior Principal Engineer, Applied Physics Laboratory

🌊Designing Equitable Ocean Technologies

When: Wed, Oct 22nd, 10:30am-11:30am
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

New technology developments promise to help us sustainably manage our oceans, like increasingly sophisticated modeling, various forms of electronic fisheries monitoring, algorithm-based conservation planning tools, and technologies for supply chain traceability. As we design these technologies for ocean management, how can we ensure that they are fair and equitable for all? In this session, we will present some examples of marine technology projects as case studies to discuss important equity considerations, including: who has decision-making power, who is excluded, who might benefit from model biases, and who takes on burdens and risks?

🐟Hope in the Water: The Role of Aquaculture in Sustainable Blue Food Systems

When: Wed, Oct 22nd, 3:00pm-5:30pm
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

Join the Global Impact Collective for our next community networking event: Hope in the Water: The Role of Aquaculture in Sustainable Blue Food Systems, as part of Washington Maritime Blue’s One Ocean Week and in partnership with Fed by Blue.
This event will feature a screening of Hope in the Water, Fed by Blue’s three-part Emmy-nominated docuseries on PBS. You’ll also hear from a panel of experts about aquaculture, regenerative aquaculture, blue foods, and the critical role aquaculture plays within food systems.

🌲UW College of the Environment: Nature Heals

When: Wed, Oct 22nd, 6:30pm
Where: Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.), Seattle, 98101

Research shows that access to nature is essential for our mental health and physical well-being. But just over a decade ago, that idea was far from common knowledge. Join the University of Washington for the 2025 Doug Walker Lecture, where environmental philanthropic leader Marc Berejka will share reflections on how the global movement for nature and health was born, lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how we can all play a part in helping our communities benefit from the healing power of the outdoors.

🌊Blue Horizon: The One Ocean Innovation Showcase

When: Thurs, Oct 23rd, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98121

Step into the future of the ocean economy. The Blue Horizon: One Ocean Innovation Showcase brings together over 40 breakthrough startups and innovators reimagining how we power, move, and sustain life on the water.
From zero-emission vessels and marine robotics to aquaculture and data systems, experience the technologies transforming maritime, climate, and energy sectors. Meet the founders behind them, connect with investors and partners, and explore new collaborations shaping the blue economy.
Don’t miss the Kelp Innovation Zone, a live exhibit of seaweed-based materials, food, and carbon solutions redefining what’s possible from the ocean up.

🗺️How to Build Inclusive Policy: Lessons Learned from Climate Work in Diverse WA Communities

When: Thurs, Oct 23rd, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

Join Matt Glazewski, Director of the Washington State Climate Corps Network (WCCN), to talk about lessons learned from working on climate resilience in diverse communities in Washington. As the Director of WCCN, Matt leads the effort to connect service and equity, focusing on overburdened communities and community-rooted climate resilience projects. Matt will discuss how the practical experience of the Climate Corps - working directly with rural and overburdened communities addressing needs such as energy efficiency upgrades to kelp reforestation - provides actionable insights into building inclusive and effective statewide policy.

🦦The State of Elliott Bay Habitat

When: Thurs, Oct 23rd, 4:00pm-5:00pm
Where: 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 1215 4th Ave 15th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101

What lies below the surface? Thousands walk along Seattle’s new Waterfront Park or Myrtle Edwards Park, take the ferry to Bainbridge Island, bike along the Elliott Bay Trail, or look out over Seattle’s shorelines from Pike Place Market each day. Yet few likely notice the habitat in the intertidal and nearshore environments along this coast. Even though it is a critical marine ecosystem that supports shellfish, salmon, orcas, and more Elliott Bay is often overlooked.
In this panel discussion we will explore the health of this coastal habitat with experts from various agencies. We will hear about their research, collaborations, and opportunities. Learn about the kelp forests, eelgrass beds, and underlying systems that form the foundation of Seattle’s own marine ecosystem.

⛵The Vast and Deep Ocean

When: Fri, Oct 24th, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Pier 66, Seattle, WA

The ocean remains one of Earth’s last great frontiers — vast in scale, deep in mystery, and largely unexplored. In The Vast and Deep Ocean, researchers from the University of Bergen and the University of Washington venture into this immense realm to showcase how they uncover the hidden world beneath the waves. The event will also reflect on opportunities and challenges of transforming Statsraad Lehmkhul, a traditional tall ship, into a floating science lab that welcomes general public and researchers from institutions around the world aboard.

Submit Events

We know all of you are cooking up great events that highlight the latest and greatest in our collective effort to save our city - and our planet! 🌍 We would love to spread the word. Please fill out this Google form to add to the list!