Waterfront Center to debut Annie Crawley’s Environmental Speaker Series

Next week,  Edmonds Waterfront Center will debut Annie Crawley’s Environmental Speaker Series with an evening focused on marine wildlife rescue and ocean conservation. The series kicks off on June 5 and will continue throughout the year, bringing leading voices in science, storytelling, and environmental stewardship to our community. 

Crawley is and Edmonds resident and award-winning producer, underwater photographer, author, and motivational speaker

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6:30, followed by a Q&A.

The opening speaker, Casey McLean, is a licensed veterinary nurse and the founding executive director of SR³ – SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the health and welfare of marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest.

With over 15 years of experience in marine wildlife medicine and emergency response, Casey leads a dedicated team of responders, scientists, and volunteers who work year-round to assist stranded, injured, and entangled animals.

Her work ranges from disentangling whales and sea lions from marine debris to treating sea turtles affected by climate change, pollution, and habitat loss.

Casey will offer guests a lively, behind-the-scenes look at SR³’s marine wildlife hospital – the only facility of its kind in the Pacific Northwest – and share heartwarming and jaw-dropping rescue stories from the field. Her engaging style and incredible animal encounters bring science to life and inspire audiences of all ages to fall in love with the marine animals who call our region home.

Her presentation will also highlight SR³’s vital work during summer seal pupping season, when her team cares for vulnerable pups separated from their mothers or impacted by human activity. Casey will share how small actions – like giving wildlife space on the beach – can make a big impact.

Expect a mix of science, storytelling, and smiles as she shares her team’s life-saving work and how all part of the solution.

This evening sets the stage for future events in the series, which will include talks by:

• Dr. Ed Kolodziej, professor at the University of Washington and senior researcher at the Center for Urban Waters, whose research focuses on identifying and mitigating emerging contaminants in urban watersheds. He is internationally recognized for his work on 6PPD-quinone, a toxic chemical derived from tire dust that has been directly linked to the death of coho salmon in urban streams.  His work has shaped environmental policy and water quality standards while building bridges between scientific research and community health across the Pacific Northwest. He speaks Thursday, Sept. 11.
• Dr. Cindy Elliser, associate director of the Salish Sea Institute at Western Washington University and founder of Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam). Based in Anacortes,, Elliser is a marine mammalogist and educator with over 20 years of experience in marine mammal biology and public engagement. Her long-term photo-ID and behavioral research on harbor porpoises and harbor seals in the Salish Sea helps inform conservation policy and community science efforts, and her educational outreach programs empower people of all ages to better understand and protect our marine neighbors. She speaks Thursday, Oct.  9,.

Together, this speaker series celebrates those making waves in ocean and environmental protection – uniting science, education, and action to protect our shared future.

Pre-registration is encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows.

Register online.