Dive into Surf Culture and Coastal Futures!
Future Earth Coasts (FEC) invites you to an inspiring hybrid seminar, “Surf Culture: Collectively Supporting Coastal Futures”, featuring Dr. Tom Wegener，an internationally recognized surfboard designer, environmental advocate, and elected Noosa Shire Councillor from Queensland, Australia. On September 28th, 2025 (02:00–03:00 UTC), join us to explore how surfing, once seen simply as a sport, has become a global movement shaping coastal conservation and community resilience.
This engaging session will delve into the expanding influence of surf communities worldwide and their growing role as environmental stewards. Dr. Wegener will share insights from his PhD research and on-the-ground advocacy, illustrating how surf culture fosters a shared identity centered around respect for the ocean and local environments.
This webinar is ideal for researchers, environmental activists, policy makers, and anyone interested in community-driven conservation, sustainable blue economies, and the intersection of sports and advocacy.
Event Details
Date & Time: September 28, 2025, 02:00 AM – 03:00 AM UTC
Venue (hybrid):
- In-person: Room A204, SKLEC Building, East China Normal University, Shanghai
- Online: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Moderator: Dr Josef Gregory Mahoney, Professor of Politics at East China Normal University, China
Registration:
- In-person participation: Register via QR code below (in-person attendance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to register early to secure your spot)：
- Online participants: Scan QR code below or visit here.
TALK
- Surf Culture: Collectively Supporting Coastal Futures
Surfing communities are expanding worldwide, bringing with them a strong commitment to protecting coastlines. The global surfing community can engage with Future Earth Coasts (FEC) members to raise awareness and drive action for safeguarding coastal areas.
There are an estimated 35 million active surfers, not including those who identify more broadly as surfers—such as ocean swimmers, body surfers, and belly boarders. Some experts believe this figure is very low. Surfing is growing rapidly in countries including China, South Korea, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Mexico. In South Korea, for example, there were reportedly only a few surfers in 2007; today there are around 20,000 active surfers, with 1.2 million more having tried surfing through Learn To Surf schools. This growth marks a significant cultural shift.
Research shows that surfers share a cultural identity, reflected in practices such as owning locally made surfboards. Unlike other sports equipment, surfboards are closely tied to community and personal identity. This tradition supports thousands of small surfboard manufacturers worldwide and highlights the resilience of local surf culture.
This shared identity also extends to environmental custodianship. Surfers are often the first to feel the impacts of pollution and coastal degradation and are active supporters of groups such as the Surfrider Foundation. This presentation explores the strength of Surf Culture and how surfers, united by community and identity, can be harnessed to collectively support coastal futures.
OUR SPEAKER
Dr Tom Wegener
Dr Tom Wegener is an internationally recognized surfboard designer, author, and environmental advocate. He is currently serving a second term as an elected official; Noosa Shire Councillor, Queensland, Australia. Tom has participated in the growing collaboration among surfing communities to advocate for the environment. Surfers acknowledge they are custodians of the coastal waters and are using their political power to make change. For example, the Surfrider Foundation with Surfers for Climate and others, have successfully stopped mining operations in the waters of South Australia and are advocating to stop all mining in coastal waters of Australia. Dr Wegener is supporting surfers to continue their coastal environment advocacy by working with the many organizations that are in this field like the Coastal Biosphere Reserve Network and the Future Earth Coasts (FEC).
This webinar is part of the Future Earth-funded cross-cutting initiative “Building Future Leadership: A Coastal Sustainability Value Chain”—an effort dedicated to empowering Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs). We are actively expanding our network, and you are welcome to apply to participate in our workshops and training programs, or to partner with us to co-host events, provide resources, or contribute research expertise. To get involved, please visit our website or contact [email protected].