The Trans-Pacific Voyage of Iguanas

We have a true “creature feature” for October! 🦎

How does a land-dwelling, desert-loving lizard end up thriving on far-flung, verdant Pacific islands thousands of miles from home? Against impossible odds, and the immensity of the world’s largest ocean basin, iguanas pulled it off.

No, this isn’t the plot of a new Pixar film. But it should be! This improbable journey stands as the longest known transoceanic crossing ever accomplished by a terrestrial vertebrate. A survival saga written not by humans, but by nature itself.

Join Dr. Simon Scarpetta, evolutionary biologist, herpetologist, and paleontologist at the University of San Francisco, as he unravels this extraordinary natural history mystery. Blending fossil evidence, genetics, and evolutionary biology, he’ll take us millions of years back to witness iguanas rafting from North America to Fiji—and reveal how scientists know they truly made this voyage

But this is more than a tale of deep time. Today, Fiji’s iguanas stand on the razor’s edge of survival, facing modern threats of habitat loss and invasive species. Dr. Scarpetta will highlight how these remarkable reptiles, once castaways now endemic to Fiji, depend on urgent conservation. In their story lies a reminder that even in an age of extinctions, resilience endures, and hope is worth fighting for.

“Understanding the history of life on oceanic islands—like the origins of Fiji’s iguanas—shows why we must protect their habitats. Native forests and reefs are the only homes for these iguanas and countless other species, and local conservation is key to their survival."

           —Dr. Simon Scarpetta

Come raise a glass to science, resilience, and one of the greatest ocean voyages you’ve never heard of.

WESTERN FLYER

COMEBACK STORY

RAISING SPIRITS SINCE 1940

In  1940, author John Steinbeck and his close friend, marine biologist Ed  Ricketts, set out aboard the Western Flyer on a beer-stocked voyage that  became The Log from the Sea of Cortez—a journey that’s inspired  generations of scientists, conservationists, and ocean lovers.

Eighty-five  years later, the Western Flyer is back—fully restored and relaunched as  a floating classroom and community hub for scientists, students,  fishers, artists, and dreamers.

On September 25, join us as Sherry Flumerfelt, Executive Director of the Western Flyer Foundation,  shares how this storied vessel is once again sparking curiosity,  connecting people to the ocean, and standing as a powerful symbol of  resilience.

Sherry  has spent 25+ years turning big ocean ideas into real-world wins for  coastal communities. She’s led the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, worked  with the Coral Reef Alliance and Environmental Defense Fund, and  advanced ocean sustainability from California to the South Pacific. Now,  she’s blending science, art, and storytelling aboard one of the most  iconic ships in marine history.

Come raise a glass to the Western Flyer’s comeback—and to the ocean’s own comeback story we’re all here to help write.

About Ocean Hoptimism

Ocean Hoptimism is a  monthly Bay Area series that spotlights stories of ocean  resilience, hope, and action — all served with a side of craft beer and  community connection.  Hosted in partnership with Faction Brewing in  Alameda, Ocean Hoptimism brings together ocean champions, storytellers,  and community builders who believe that optimism isn’t just a feeling —  it’s a force for change and essential fuel for ocean conservation.  Our  vision is to build a movement rooted in possibility, resilience, and a  shared commitment to a thriving ocean future.  Join us every fourth Thursday of the month at Faction Brewing for a new, inspirational Ocean Hoptimism speaker!