Sierra Club Sierra Talks: Rigs to Reefs
Rigs to Reefs: Exploring the Future of Offshore Oil and Gas Development. In California, there are 27 oil and gas platforms found off the coast, each home to a thriving, unique ecosystem. A recent study published by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that "...the oil and gas platforms off California are among the most productive habitats globally.”
The presenters, Emily Callahan and Amber Jackson, met at Scripps Institution of Oceanography where they received their M.A.S. in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. Combining a range of experience, from tech to environmental consulting, they united to co-found Blue Latitudes. Blue Latitudes' mission is to unite science, policy, and communications to create innovative solutions for the complex ecological challenges associated with offshore energy structures. They have successfully conducted a multitude of research expeditions around the world. Recently, Blue Latitudes was awarded Explorers Club Flag #83 to accompany an expedition to Malaysia to investigate the ecological, cultural, and economic potential of repurposing an offshore platform as an eco-tourism hotspot.