Anesti Vega is an award‑winning educator who creates inclusive, experiential pathways into ocean science and exploration for learners of all backgrounds.
PARTNERS IN ACADEMIC GUEST LECTURES
& CoMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
Partnerships & Consultations
University of Southern California (USC) - Early‑stage consultant and guest lecturer for the Scientific Diving Discovery Program, shaping curriculum and student pathways
Bowling Green State University - Consulted on the development of university scuba program, from standard operating procedures and finance/budgeting to programming development
The Nature Conservancy - Conducted a Feasibility Study to support California Indigenous tribes in scientific diving and kelp forest restoration; advised on culturally responsive training
National Aquarium (Baltimore) - Provided expertise for the award‑winning Voyages immersive event series, integrating ocean science, storytelling, and community engagement
Everglades Foundation - Contributed to Stories from Across the Watershed docuseries, highlighting the ecological connection between the Everglades and Florida’s coral reef tract
Reef Check Worldwide - Consultant for the “Dive Into Science” scholarship program; developed strengths‑based application processes and culturally competent training frameworks
American Academy of Underwater Sciences Foundation - Diversity & Outreach Committee; co‑designed national scientific diving scholarship and inclusive program development
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) - Diversity Subcommittee; contributed to scholarship development and inclusive representation in training materials
Black in Marine Science (BIMS) - Co‑Instructor for inaugural scuba diving scholarship cohort; supported curriculum design and student mentorship
Academic & University Lectures
● University of Southern California (USC) - Guest Lecturer, Scientific Diving Discovery Program (2021–2024)
● Florida Institute of Technology - Guest Lectures on human factors, community science, neutral buoyancy in astronaut training, and scientific diving (2020–2024)
● Florida Tech Scuba Distinguished Lecture Series - Host and Moderator (2020–2023)
● St. George’s University (Grenada) - Guest Lecturer on SCUBA & Ecology (2024)
● Bowling Green State University - Guest Lecturer, Professional Development in SCUBA (2022)
● University of California, Davis - Guest Lecturer, Professional Development in Marine Science (2020)
● Chabot College - Guest Lecturer, STEM Careers Within SCUBA (2019)Academic & University Lectures
● University of Southern California (USC) - Guest Lecturer, Scientific Diving Discovery Program (2021–2024)
● Florida Institute of Technology - Guest Lectures on human factors, community science, neutral buoyancy in astronaut training, and scientific diving (2020–2024)
● Florida Tech Scuba Distinguished Lecture Series - Host and Moderator (2020–2023)
● St. George’s University (Grenada) - Guest Lecturer on SCUBA & Ecology (2024)
● Bowling Green State University - Guest Lecturer, Professional Development in SCUBA (2022)
● University of California, Davis - Guest Lecturer, Professional Development in Marine Science (2020)
● Chabot College - Guest Lecturer, STEM Careers Within SCUBA (2019)
Note: This list represents a curated portion of all venues and initiatives that have been presented at.
Please visit the MEDIA page for examples of previous talks and presentations.