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11:00 AM
12:00 PM
Dr. Seth Finnegan
Professor of Paleobiology, University of California, Berkeley
Life in the ocean is ever-changing, and has survived worse things than us.
—Professor Seth Finnegan
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Rugose coral fossil.
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University of California Museum of Paleontology
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Global Change and Extinction in the Ocean: A Paleontological Perspective
You can’t understand where the ocean is going without understanding where it’s been.
For more than half a billion years, the ocean—and the life within it—has changed together. Waters have warmed and cooled. Chemistry, climate, coastlines, and ecosystems have shifted, sometimes gradually and sometimes with startling speed.
Some species vanished. Others persisted through upheaval, extinction, and seas transformed beyond recognition. What’s the secret sauce to survival across deep time—and is there one?
The fossil record holds the clues.
This month at Ocean Hoptimism, we’re taking the long view to discover what Earth’s ancient ocean can teach us about the future of our own.
The good news?
Life is remarkably resilient.
That doesn’t mean every species or ecosystem survives every change. Far from it. The fossil record shows us that major environmental shifts can have profound consequences for life in the sea. But it also shows something hopeful: life adapts, ecosystems evolve, and the ocean has a tremendous capacity for renewal.
We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Seth Finnegan, Professor of Paleobiology and the Virginia G. and Robert E. Gill Chair in Natural History in UC Berkeley’s Department of Integrative Biology, and Curator at the UC Museum of Paleontology, for an evening exploring Global Change and Extinction in the Oceans: A Paleontological Perspective.
Professor Finnegan and his students study the fossil record of marine life—from the first multicellular animals more than 500 million years ago to the traces of organisms accumulating in ocean sediments today. By looking across this extraordinary span of time, they’re uncovering how changes in Earth’s physical environment have shaped marine biodiversity—and what those lessons might mean for the ocean we’re trying to protect today.
Because when we’re trying to imagine the ocean’s future, the past is one of our best guides.
Join us on Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. at Faction Brewing in Alameda for an evening of deep time, ocean life, extinction, resilience, and what the fossil record can tell us about the future.
Bring a friend. Bring your curiosity.
Because the ocean has been writing its story for more than 500 million years. For better or worse, our actions today are shaping what comes next.
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!
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