Seidel is a member of the Rutgers Food System Science team for the Federated States of Micronesia supporting community led food system development for Pacific island communities.
PHOTO OF RUTGERS TEAM AND VISITING SECRETARIES: : :
SEIDEL IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF CLIMATE AND FOOD SECURITY REPORTS FOR FSM GOVERNMENTS: : :
Sustainable Sea Transportation for Pacific Island Nations 2016-2019
Dena Seidel served as the director of the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea from 2016-2019 and was promoted to chief operations officer in 2017. Seidel’s responsibilities included traveling between Pacific Island nations securing partnerships with governments and cultural leaders for the establishment of Okeanos sustainable sea transportation LLCs and the training of local sailors. As a trained filmmaker, she also documented the foundation’s growth and activities.
As chief operations officer, Seidel oversaw Okeanos sustainable sea transport operations in the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, Saipan and the Federated States of Micronesia, making sure to align Okeanos’ activities with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the hosting Pacific nations’ climate adaptation priorities. She developed memorandums of understanding and operational contracts between Okeanos Foundation for the Sea and the Pacific governments of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Palau as well as Pohnpei and Yap States in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Seidel prepared and delivered presentations and exhibitions at prestigious international climate conferences including IUCN (2016), COP 22, COP 23, COP 24, the United Nations Ocean Week (2017) and the Micronesian Island Forum (2018).
Seidel developed international grant proposals to fund Okeanos sustainable sea transportation operations. These proposals included an International Climate Protection Initiative (IKI) to support remote Marshall Island communities and a Green Climate Fund proposal endorsed by 5 Pacific Island governments (RMI, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, and FSM) to fund the implementation of a traditionally based sustainable sea transportation network.
Seidel also directed more than 30 short documentaries featuring Pacific Islanders operating Okeanos vessels to communicate the benefits of traditionally based sailing canoes in the voices of those the boats are intended to serve. In addition, Seidel directed more than 40 shoots for the Okeanos feature film Starchasers and also wrote and co-directed the Starchasers trailer.
Key Okeanos successes led by Ms. Seidel include the 2017 “Oceans Peoples” exhibit in the United Nations lobby that she designed and prepared for the office of Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the United National General Assembly. The Okeanos “Oceans Peoples” exhibit remained in the UN visitors lobby for three months.
Seidel also organized the High Level Convening of Pacific leaders during the 2017 United Nations General Assembly announcing the regional Green Climate Fund proposal for Okeanos sustainable sea transportation in partnership with Palau’s president Tommy Remengesau, Nauru’s president Baran Waqa and FSM’s vice president Yosiwo George.
Seidel also organized and prepared the COP23 Side Event “Sailing the Past Into the Future” featuring president Remengesau, RMI’s president Heine, FSM’s vice president George and Dame Meg Taylor of the Pacific Island Forum to announce the launch of the regional Green Climate Fund proposal for a fleet of Okeanos modernized and sustainable sailing canoes.
In 2018, Seidel was invited by the Pacific Island Forum to present the Okeanos mission as part of a COP 24 High Level Panel Discussion “Understanding the Ocean and Climate Crosswalk – a Pacific Perspective” with Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiona Sailele Malielegaoi.
Okeanos Foundation for the Sea films Directed by Dena Seidel: : :
Vaka Motu: Doing the Hard Work
https://vimeo.com/304956849
Marshall Islands Nuclear Legacy Voyage
https://vimeo.com/261574995
Pacific Leaders on Okeanos Marshall Islands
https://vimeo.com/259690342
President Panuelo on Okeanos Pohnpei
https://vimeo.com/361364214
Fishing Trials in Kiribati
https://vimeo.com/322008178
Okeanos Vanuatu Supports Shepherd Islands’ Agricultural Tourism
https://vimeo.com/307147833
Okeanos Marshall Islands Escorts Hokulea at Malama Honua Homecoming
https://vimeo.com/225606882
Whale Watching and Ecotourism with Tonga Vakas
https://vimeo.com/169367697
Okeanos Education
https://vimeo.com/176877199
The Vulnerability of Micronesia
https://vimeo.com/201327958
University of South Pacific Students use Okeanos Marshall Islands for Scientific Research
https://vimeo.com/246879383
Pacific Presidents Announce Green Climate Fund Proposal for Sustainable Sea Transportation
https://vimeo.com/245826698
Okeanos Marianas Arrives Saipan
https://vimeo.com/241606128
Okeanos crew Ivanancy Vanikura and Steven Tawake from Fiji
https://vimeo.com/232917304
Okeanos Foundation at the United Nations Ocean Conference
https://vimeo.com/224386097
Kiribati Independence Day Sail
https://vimeo.com/293635445
Okeanos Messenger Sails to Pohnpei
https://vimeo.com/1008729309
Okeanos Vanuatu Ecotourism
https://vimeo.com/321501429
Micronesian Master Navigator Ali Haleyalur & The Vaka Motu
https://vimeo.com/318931383
FSM Vice President Yosiwo George on the Vaka Motu
https://vimeo.com/315533498
Envisioning Yap’s Vaka Motu Bus Route
https://vimeo.com/335535440
Okeanos Palau Sails to Micronesia
https://vimeo.com/344129339
Yap Governor Henry Falan Support Okeanos Vaka Motus
https://vimeo.com/345808442
Okeanos Vaka Motu Fleet Arrives in Yap
https://vimeo.com/352137087
Minister Mattlan Zackhras Welcomes Okeanos Marshall Islands
https://vimeo.com/353375078
Local Heroes of Okeanos Yap
https://vimeo.com/375475284
Okeanos Pohnpei Health Services
https://vimeo.com/370989979
Okeanos Yap Cleanup
https://vimeo.com/363867067
Okeanos Yap Dengue Medical Mission
https://vimeo.com/362899775
Aunofo Havea for TVS Whale Conference
https://vimeo.com/331789635