2022 Speakers
Hear an artist, scientist or ocean activist, live and livestreamed at Tacoma Ocean Fest, June 12, 2022. Be inspired, learn something new.

MARICRES CASTRO
Maricres Valdez Castro is a proud member of the Agta Tabangnon Tribe of Pilar, Sorsogon (Philippines). A former US Peace Corps Zambia Health Volunteer and Miss Washington U.S. International 2021, she is an Earth Day Network Youth Ambassador for sustainable fashion and coral reef conservation, international model and full-time molecular biologist. Castro serves the City of Tacoma as a newly appointed Commissioner to the Commission on Immigrants and Refugee Affairs.
11am SPEAKER STAGE
SALISH SEA – Thought-provoking youth film about the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) by Grant Elementary students. 11:15pm SPEAKER STAGE

ALEJANDRO DURAN
Mexican-American artist Alejandro Duran brings to Ocean Fest his large-scale photographs of installations he creates out of plastic trash washed up on the beaches of Sian Ka’an World Heritage Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. In this video talk he explains his process. Local artist Mary Mann & students will answer a Q&A about their spiral sculpture of plastic flowing from the photos.
12pm SPEAKER STAGE

PETER HODUM
University of Puget Sound professor Peter Hodum’s research is in the areas of avian ecology and conservation biology. He is particularly interested in conservation-based research, including the impacts of anthropogenic threats such as marine plastic debris, habitat alteration and loss, introduced species, and fisheries interactions on bird populations and island ecosystems.
1pm SPEAKER STAGE
EXTINCTION – A powerful multimedia presentation about our endangered species by the Queen Anne Elementary fifth grade. 1:15pm SPEAKER STAGE
Stay for the Youth Story Contest Awards!
Tacoma’s finest young poets and filmmakers present their work and receive prizes for the 2022 Ocean Fest Youth Story Contest. Come listen and uplift their voices!
