Oceans, critical ecosystems for planetary health, are gravely threatened by global industrial systems dependent on fossil fuels. Yet the ocean is also a source of possibility for the built environment. Sargassum can be compressed into masonry blocks and cement composites, and seagrass has been used as roof thatch for generations in many regions. Pressed eelgrass mats can match the thermal performance of wood-fiber insulation, and kelp and other macroalgae are being studied as feedstock for bioplastics and biocomposites, as well as for their carbon sequestration potential.

This event convenes experts in ocean farming and sourcing, manufacturers of biobased marine products, and designers to discuss how we can learn from, repair, and build with the world’s oceans. Panelists include Iván García Kerdan, associate professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, who will speak to the use of sargassum as a construction material in Mexico; Shanjana Mahmud, co-founder and co-executive director of Seaweed City, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing seaweed along New York City’s coastline; and Tobias Øhrstrøm, co-founder of Søuld, a Danish manufacturer specializing in acoustic products made from eelgrass.

The discussion will be moderated by Mae-ling Lokko, assistant professor at Yale University and founder of Willow Technologies.

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