If you are interested in scheduling a speaking event, please use the email at the bottom of the page to reach Dr. Bessesen directly.


"Enthusiastic, inspiring, knowledgeable!"


Recent Presentations

World Congress of Herpetology (WCH10)
Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo
August, 2024
"Updates on America's endemic (and endangered) sea snake"


Cabrillo Marine Aquarium/ACS Los Angeles
Cabrillo Whalewatch webinar series, USA
January 30, 2024
"A Deeper Dive with Brooke Bessesen: Hope for Vaquita"


Loreto Puerto de la Ciencia
Loreto, Mexico
December 7, 2023
"Esperanza para la vaquita marina (Hope for vaquita)"


Centro de Investigaciones Biologas el Noroeste S.C. (CIBOR)
La Paz, Mexico
December 5, 2023
"Unraveling the mysteries of America's endemic sea snake"


Universidad Pedagógica National
La Paz, Mexico
December 4, 2023
"Esperanza para la vaquita marina (Hope for vaquita)"


Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL)
Guadalajara, Mexico
November 29 – December 1, 2023
Multiple media interviews and presentations, including:
"Vaquita marina: protección urgente (Vaquita: urgent protection)"


Osa Conservation Piro Research Station
Rio Piro, Costa Rica
February 17, 2023
"To xanthos with love: Studying Costa Rica's extraordinary endemic sea snake"


University of Reading School of Biological Sciences
Reading, UK
October 17, 2022
"Hydrophis platurus xanthos, the unique ecology of an endemic sea snake"


Humane Society of the United States
Global Animal Rescue and Response Team online meeting, USA
October 13, 2021
"Tale of two endemics: The role of animal welfare in species protection and science"


University of Reading EcCo Lab
Reading, UK
July 12, 2021
"How many Golfo Dulce yellow sea snakes are there?"


University of Reading SBS Research Symposium
Reading, UK
June 29, 2021
"The value and limitations of local ecological knowledge"
Awarded Best Second-Year Presentation


Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference
British Columbia, Canada
February 19, 2021
"Grappling with a sea snake: Journey from discovery to understanding"


Ursinus College
Pennsylvania, USA
February 19, 2021
Discussion with Prof. Richard Wallace's marine mammal conservation class


5th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity
Auckland, New Zealand
December 12, 2020
"Decadal data show dynamics of tropical fiord biodiversity"


University of Reading SBS Research Symposium
Reading, UK
June 26, 2020
"Unraveling the mysteries of xanthos"
Awarded Best 3-Minute Talk


Osa Conservation
Piro Research Station, Costa Rica
March 10, 2020
"100 days on the water: a decade of marine research in Golfo Dulce"


Other Select Events

Tattered Cover Bookstore
LoDo Location
Denver, Colorado


Island Press webinar (500+ attendees from six continents)
Washington, DC (online)
"Saving Vaquita: Considerations in the Race Against Extinction"
WATCH RECORDING: here


American Cetacean Society Biennial Conference
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Newport Beach, California


ALA/ARA Celebrate Literacy Awards
East Valley Institute of Technology
Mesa, Arizona
Brooke received an ILA Celebrate Literacy Award


National Wildlife Society, San Francisco Chapter
Redwood Shores Branch Library
Redwood City, California


Tucson Festival of Books
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona


Arizona Geographic Alliance STEMSS Institute
Carnival Cruise on Mexican Riviera
Baja, Mexico
Mulitple presentations


University of Arizona / CEDO Spring Lecture Series
Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill
Tucson, Arizona
"BUYING TIME: Exploring Solutions to the Vaquita Crisis"
WATCH RECORDING: here


Marine Mammal Symposium
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada


NewSouth Book Club
New South Wales, Australia


American Cetacean Society, Monterey Bay Chapter
Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University
Pacific Grove, California


Changing Hands Bookstore
Tempe, Arizona


Sea Change Radio
Sea of Change with Alex Wise
San Francisco, California


KUAZ-FM (NPR station)
Arizona Spotlight
Tucson, Arizona


Aquarium of the Pacific
International Save the Vaquita Day
Long Beach, California


Sedona Public Library
Sedona, Arizona


KPBS-FM (NPR station)
Midday Edition
San Diego, California


American Cetacean Society, Los Angeles Chapter
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
San Pedro, California


Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Palm Desert, California


American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, Arizona