Alum Tomas Koeck honored by Explorers Club, Debuts PBS Show

Explorers Club names alum among 50 people helping to change the world

Key Highlights

• Tomas Koeck, a Sacred Heart University alumnus from the Class of 2022 with a master’s degree earned in 2024, was named to The Explorers Club 50 list recognizing individuals helping to change the world
• The Explorers Club honored Koeck for his work as an environmental photographer and filmmaker dedicated to conservation-focused storytelling
• His documentary work spans global locations, including the Arctic, Central America and other ecologically significant regions
• In addition to the EC50 honor, Koeck recently debuted a four-part documentary series on PBS titled Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast
• The PBS series highlights Rhode Island’s coastal ecosystems and is released seasonally with episodes in spring, summer, fall and winter

Tomas Koeck ’22, MA ’24, has the grit and determination to go where others may fear to go and to tell stories that might otherwise remain hidden. It is that mindset that landed the Sacred Heart University alum, an environmental photographer and filmmaker, on The Explorers Club 50 (EC50), a list of 50 people changing the world.

Headquartered in New York City, The Explorers Club has been supporting scientific expeditions and uniting its members for more than a century. It recently honored Koeck for his work as both a visual storyteller and a dedicated environmentalist whose work is aimed at helping and protecting nature rather than profiting from it. Other Explorers Club members include Sylvia Earle, Buzz Aldrin and Jane Goodall.

“The Explorers Club is a cornerstone of the natural history community, a living hub of science, education, exploration and storytelling where you’re surrounded by history that spans from the poles to the moon,” said Koeck. “Being recognized by the club for my work in natural history film is a profound honor and a powerful affirmation of my mission to help share and protect the story of our extraordinary planet.”

Koeck, however, doesn’t see the honor as a reason to rest on his laurels and celebrate, but rather as fuel to continue the work he’s done throughout his career.

“The EC50 award is unique because it honors leaders from every facet of the natural history community, from storytellers and scientists to explorers and innovators,” Koeck said. “Being recognized among the storytellers is a huge honor, and even more exciting is joining a global network where science, exploration and conservation connect through collaboration and shared stories,” he added.

Connecting with the EC50 network is important to Koeck. His production company, Silent Flight Studios, is a non-profit organization, and he believes building associations with like-minded individuals will help him build out his filmography, which already includes features about locations from the Arctic to Central America and just about everywhere in between.

“Tomas exemplifies the kind of storyteller and scholar we cultivate at Sacred Heart, someone who combines rigorous inquiry with creative vision and a deep ethical commitment to the natural world,” said James Castonguay, associate dean and director of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts. “Being named to The Explorers Club 50 is a remarkable achievement, but what makes it truly significant is what it represents: a filmmaker who has chosen to put his talent in service of conservation, science and the public good. I am excited to see the stories he tells next and the impact those stories will have.”

In addition to being named to the EC50 list, Koeck recently debuted a new documentary series for PBS. The four-part series, Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast, focuses on Rhode Island’s illustrious ecosystems. Its first episode, “Secrets of the Seagrass,” premiered in January.

“This series shines a light on the extraordinary environments hiding in plain sight across New England, beginning in Rhode Island, and reveals why our own backyards are just as vital as the farthest corners of the world,” Koeck said. “With one episode released each season—spring, summer, fall and winter—the series captures the natural rhythms of the region’s ecosystems, showing that conservation is both meaningful and achievable right where we live.”

For Koeck, this series and the EC50 honor are only the beginning: his gaze and lenses remain fixed on a new horizon that he promises lies much farther north.

“Working with Tomas over two years on his capstone project was a privilege,” said Joe Alicastro, former director of the graduate program in journalism & media production at SHU. “He brought focus, resilience and a clear sense of purpose to the work from the very beginning. He continually pushed himself to elevate the project and embrace feedback. Seeing him recognized at the highest levels is incredibly rewarding and well deserved.”