Outreach

Two distinct orca communities, the endangered Southern Residents and the thriving Bigg’s orcas, share the Salish Sea yet live entirely different lives shaped by their food sources, behaviour, and resilience to environmental change. Their contrasting futures reveal what’s at stake in a rapidly changing ocean-read my full article on Mare Mundi to learn why their stories matter.

During our research expedition to Kiritimati July-August 2025, I led biology lessons in symbiosis for third graders at Tennessee Primary School. The students coloured animals, played a matching game with symbiotic partners, and concluded with a Q&A session about our lives as biologists and our coral research on the island.

Since April 2024, I have been educating and engaging guests about cetaceans and other wildlife in the Salish Sea on whale-watching tours, sharing insights into their biology, behaviour, habitats, and the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.

Meet Big Mama - one of the first humpback whales to return to the Salish Sea in 1997, over 30 years after the 1966 whaling ban. In my blog article, I share how, year after year, more and more humpbacks followed her lead, among them her children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, marking a powerful story of recovery and resilience in the Pacific Northwest.

It’s no secret that coral reefs are in crisis, but just how dire is the situation today? And what’s being done to turn the tide? For a blog article with MareMundi, a non-profit dedicated to marine conservation and education, I spoke with microbiologist Dr. Raquel Peixoto to explore the latest threats facing coral reefs and the innovative solutions being developed to protect them.

In my blog article for MareMundi, I highlight how it’s not just cities feeling the heat; marine life is also under threat. A new study reveals that increasingly frequent heatwaves in the Mediterranean are causing mass die-offs of marine species like cnidarians and bryozoans every year.

Octopuses seem to be everywhere these days, from movies and advertisements to home décor, clothing, and cuddly plush toys. But how did these once-feared “sea monsters” become pop culture icons? In my latest blog article for Mare Mundi, I dive into the fascinating biology and cultural rise of these extraordinary creatures.