Global Summit XVII
Join us, for our 17th year of serving the Erie community with a new Global Summit lineup of groundbreaking researchers, writers, and presenters. The JES invites speakers from around the world to speak on a broad range of globally important issues each year as part of our Global Summit Speaker Series.

All Too Clear – Exploring Invasive Species Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes

November 7th,2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
TBD
Speaker: Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick

"All Too Clear" uses cutting-edge underwater drones explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure, the film shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.  

 

Join award-winning filmmakers, Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the co-founders of Inspired Planet Productions, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick, for a documentary-screening and panel discussion. 

 

Date/Time: Friday, November 7, 2025 7:00-8:30PM

Location: TBD

Admission:

  • General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
  • Preferred Seating  (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)
  • Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee 

Parking: TBD

Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick

Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick are award-winning filmmakers, Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the co-founders of Inspired Planet Productions. This husband-and-wife team have produced more than 40 hours of nationally broadcast documentary content, spotlighting North America's natural wonders and cultural heritage. In their latest project, the hit documentary series All Too Clear—a 2025 Canadian Screen Awards nominee—Drebert and Melnick turned their cameras underwater, using cutting-edge remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to capture never-before-seen footage of life beneath the Great Lakes. Their groundbreaking work has led to the discovery of an historic shipwreck, captured extraordinary wildlife behaviors, and contributed directly to our scientific understanding of freshwater ecosystems. Their footage is being used in active research and has led to peer-reviewed publications on Great Lakes fish. They invite you to join them on their journey to reveal the hidden beauty and urgent stories of the freshwater ecosystems we all depend on—but rarely see.