National Geographic Marks World Oceans Day With Activities Focused on the Importance of Protecting the World's Oceans

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, National Geographic announced a series of events throughout the week of June 4^th to commemorate World Oceans Day and highlight the importance of protecting the world's oceans in conjunction with the United Nations Ocean Conference.

The activities will kick off at the World Ocean Day Festival on Sunday, June 4^th where National Geographic will sponsor interactive panel discussions about issues that threaten the ocean as well as solutions for addressing them. The World Ocean Festival Speaker Forum sponsored by National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey will feature National Geographic Emerging Explorer and award-winning marine biologist, Dr. David Gruber and Martha Jefferies, producer and director of National Geographic's Years of Living Dangerously. National Geographic Explorer and iconic Ocean Advocate Sylvia Earl will participate in the closing ceremony for the festival.

On Monday, June 5, National Geographic will visit the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square  to introduce National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, a first-in-kind immersive entertainment experience coming to Times Square in October.  In honor of the occasion, Dr. Gruber, chief scientific advisor for National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey and award-winning marine biologist, will ring the Opening Bell.

During the United Nations Ocean Conference (June 5-8), National Geographic's Pristine Seas team, led by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Enric Sala, will be on the ground presenting and hosting sessions alongside UN representatives and key conservation partners, highlighting the urgent need to protect the ocean's last truly wild places. Multiple National Geographic Explorers will also share their stories during the course of the day's panels.

Throughout the week, National Geographic will be publishing ocean-related content on its website and updating its oceans page with relevant articles. It will also highlight the importance of protecting our oceans through its social channels, and will feature a short film presented by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron and the Avatar Alliance Foundation on National Geographic's Facebook page. Produced for World Oceans Day June 8, What Would the Ocean Say? focuses on the next generation of ocean leaders and showcases a number of National Geographic Explorers and their important work. National Geographic Explorer and Photographer of the Year Brian Skerry will introduce the film on the floor of the General Assembly. Skerry's most recent book entitled SHARK, releasing June 13, is an intimate portrait of an elusive predator and an important reminder of what is at stake for our entire planet.  His work is currently being featured at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC. through an exhibition called "Sharks: On Assignment with Brian Skerry," open May 24 through October 15.

Nat Geo WILD celebrates World Oceans Day on Thursday, June 8 with a full day of programming showcasing the beauty and mystery of our planet's precious oceans. The marathon, which begins at 7 a.m. EST and airs through 11 p.m. EST, includes special encores of some of Nat Geo WILD's most iconic underwater specials, such as The Wild Atlantic at 6 and 7 p.m., Disneynature's Oceans at 8 p.m., and Mission Critical: Wild Galapagos at 10 p.m. Join us as we dive beneath the water's surface to explore our oceans' complex and unique ecosystems, and reveal surprising stories of marine life and the dedicated people fighting to protect it... before it's too late. The full programming schedule for the day can be found at natgeowild.com.

Click here to download photos from Nat Geo WILD's The Wild Atlantic.  

"Through the lens of our photographers and filmmakers, and the scientific discoveries and travels of our Explorers, National Geographic has celebrated the wonder and witnessed the degradation of our oceans and its creatures.  In the face of these challenges and the Administration's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, it is more important than ever to inform the public about the profound changes to our planet, and inspire people to take their own actions just as we have been doing for 129 years," said Declan Moore, CEO, National Geographic Partners.   

 "National Geographic has a profound commitment to the preservation and protection of the world's ocean. From multiyear efforts like the Pristine Seas project to supporting dedicated ocean advocates like National Geographic Explorers Sylvia Earle, Brian Skerry, Asha de Vos and David Gruber, we are dedicated to ensuring a heathier and more sustainable ocean for generations to come", said Gary Knell, CEO, National Geographic Society. 

National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About the National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is a leading nonprofit that invests in bold people and transformative ideas in the fields of exploration, scientific research, storytelling and education. Through our grants and programs, we aspire to create a community of change, advancing key insights about our planet and probing some of the most pressing scientific questions of our time while ensuring that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global understanding. Our goal is measurable impact: furthering exploration and educating people around the world to inspire solutions for the greater good. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.org. You can also connect with our most innovative Explorers at the first-ever National Geographic Explorers Festival; a full schedule, as well as ticket information, can be found at www.natgeo.org/explorers-festival.

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SOURCE National Geographic Society