Science and Society: The Ocean Frontier

The ocean holds a key to our climate future—if we act wisely. In this edition of Science & Society, we delve into questions around industrializing the ocean, including deep sea mining and offshore renewable energy infrastructure, touching on scientific, social, and policy aspects.

The clean energy and tech booms are heading offshore: wind farms, deep-sea mining for rare earth minerals, floating solar panels,and even floating data centers cooled by seawater. Beneath the engineering lie thornier questions: who owns a public resource, who profits from it, who governs it, and what happens to the ecosystems in the way?

Marine biologist and policy expert Ayana Elizabeth Johnson hosts deep-sea biologist Dr. Diva Amon and climate investor Ben Wolkon for a conversation that spans science, policy, and the stakes of getting this wrong. Based in Trinidad and a National Geographic Explorer, Amon has led submarine expeditions to some of the least-explored places on Earth, authored over 80 scientific publications, and worked with the UN on developing nations’ rights to the resources in their waters. Wolkon spent a decade as cofounder the venture capital firm MUUS Climate Partners, backing more than 30 climate-focused companies. Now, as CEO of his own firm, Avarna, he's continuing to make early bets on climate solutions, including offshore renewable energy infrastructure.

More than 80% of the ocean floor remains unmapped—and the carbon stored in its sediments, its role as a heat regulator, its staggering and largely unknown biodiversity all hangs in the balance. Together, our guests bring different expertise to bear on the genuine promise of powering our future from the sea, and the risk that we industrialize the ocean before we've reckoned with what that costs.

Before and after the conversation dive into the world of sugar kelp with Seaweed City. Explore how this fast-growing seaweed is cultivated right here in New York City waters — and the outsized role it plays in marine restoration, climate resilience, and pollution remediation. Stargazing in the garden with the Amateur Astronomers’ Association will open and conclude the night, weather-permitting.

The program was inspired by Siphon, Tuomas A. Laitinen’s multimedia installation drawing on more than a decade of research into octopus intelligence, sleep, and consciousness, on view in the main hall throughout the evening.

Please note that seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a free, in-person event at Pioneer Works.

Our signature series Science & Society grapples with our relationships to nature and each other. Each episode leads us deep into humanity’s timely and intersectional challenges, from biodiversity to plastics, public knowledge, the high seas, farming, climate, and love.

About the speakers

Dr Diva Amon is a Caribbean marine biologist dedicated to expanding understanding of the ocean’s least-known ecosystems and advancing evidence-based, equitable ocean stewardship. Diva’s research focuses on the deep ocean and high seas, and on how human activities are reshaping these fragile ecosystems. Her work contributes foundational knowledge where baseline data are scarce yet major industrial and policy decisions are increasingly being made.

She holds a PhD in ocean and earth science from the University of Southampton and holds academic appointments at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at UC Santa Barbara and the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. Diva has participated in expeditions worldwide and regularly ventures into the deep ocean herself. She advises governments and international bodies, including the UN, International Seabed Authority, and World Economic Forum, with a strong commitment to inclusive decision-making.

A National Geographic Explorer and TV host, Diva is Co-Founder and Director of SpeSeas, a Caribbean-based non-profit expanding marine science, education, and advocacy.

Benjamin Wolkon is an entrepreneur and investor focused on the trillion-dollar opportunity to make sustainable technologies economically competitive. He is the founder and CEO of Avarna, which combines services and capital to commercialize emerging energy and industrial technologies. Prior to that, Ben co-founded and co-led the venture capital firm MUUS Climate Partners alongside serial entrepreneur Michael Sonnenfeldt, where his team was the first investor in the AI-energy unicorns Panthalassa and BrightNight. He started his career as an independent solar energy developer, initially selling commercial solar projects out of his college apartment. Ben lives in New York City with his wife, son, and dog, and moonlights as a jazz pianist and Grateful Dead cover band member. He holds a BA from Brown University and MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and writer. She is co-founder of the nonprofit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, a distinguished scholar at Bowdoin College, and the author of The New York Times bestseller What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures. She is in love with climate solutions.