Superhero Support for the World’s Oceans
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Morse B105Morse Building
426 Van Buren St
Monterey, CA 93940 View in Campus Map
Free
Open to the Public
What is better than policy briefs and government websites to communicate complex maritime strategies? A graphic novel with great characters and an interesting plot. The ocean needs a good superhero!
Superhero Support for the World’s Oceans
Speaker: Nick Tomb, Author, “The Adventures of Maritime Domain Awareness Man”
Thursday, October 2, 2025
6:00pm to 7:30pm Pacific Time
In-person event (recorded but not live-streamed)
Morse Building, room B105
426 Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA 93940
About the Topic
MIIS graduate Nick Tomb will discuss the motivations for publishing his first graphic novel, “The Adventures of Maritime Domain Awareness Man,” which was inspired by his experiences working with the Government of Ghana on the creation of Africa’s first National Integrated Maritime Strategy (NIMS). The NIMS represents Ghana’s whole-of-government approach to the oceans. The three-year development process brought together an inter-agency working group from across the Government of Ghana to create a strategic approach to sustainably develop its blue economy, promote environmental protection, bolster maritime safety and security, and enhance regional cooperation. Confronted with the challenge of “sea-blindness,” and recognizing the need for greater strategic communications to support the NIMS specifically and ocean awareness in general, “The Adventures of Maritime Domain Awareness Man” aims to “edutain” the general public about maritime issues and inspire creative solutions to the many challenges facing the global community.
Bonus: here is a Monterey County Weekly article about Nick and his graphic novels, and here is more about Nick and the first issue
About the Speaker
Nick Tomb is an educator, nature lover and author. With cultural curiosity and an appetite for adventure, he has found his way in the world promoting peace and security, conflict resolution, military professionalism, gender equality, social justice, and environmental protection. A California native, he lives in Monterey, CA with his wife and daughter. Inspired by the dedication of people around the world who commit themselves to protect the oceans and make human activity on the seas safer and more secure, he published his first graphic novel, “The Adventures of Maritime Domain Awareness Man” in 2023.
Recommended Reading
- Developing A Comprehensive National Integrated Maritime Strategy
- Adventures of Maritime Domain Awareness Man, by Nick Tomb
Location: Morse Building, Room B105
The Morse Building is located at 426 Van Buren Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, on the campus of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. The Morse building usually has flags hanging from it, and is located next to the MIIS Our Green Thumb garden. B105 is located toward the back of the building on the first floor. There is a wheelchair lift in the Holland courtyard, and stairs can be avoided by circling the back of the Holland Center and back to Morse. Restrooms are located in the Holland Center. View the campus map.
Parking
Parking is available in any Middlebury Institute campus lot after 5 p.m., no parking permit required, no fee. View the campus map. (be sure to not confuse city lots with campus lots—city lots do charge a fee). Free parking is also available on the street (time limits on surrounding streets end at 6 p.m.).
About the Hosts
The Center for the Blue Economy is a research center at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, that provides economic and policy analysis to support the development of a robust and equitable blue economy for the 21st century. The Center uses the World Bank’s definition of the Blue Economy: the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health. We must maintain ocean health to maintain human health, economic health, and the health of the planet. Climate change is linked, inextricably, to a healthy ocean. Consider joining our movement for Ocean Climate Action Now. Consider joining our Center for the Blue Economy Newsletter List (3-4x per year by email).
Gratitude to Our Sponsors
We thank the Loker Hicks Foundation and the Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation our sponsors.
Questions
Contact Rachel Christopherson at the Center for the Blue Economy at cbe@miis.edu or (831) 647-4183.