S2 E31: Art Meets Ocean: How Creativity, Science & Community Are Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

What do underwater art museums, bomb tests, and citizen science have in common? They're all part of the story of the Great Barrier Reef’s past, present—and possible future.

Our guest this week is Dr. Adam Smith—freediver, marine biologist, and founder of Reef Ecologic, a Townsville-based social enterprise leading innovative reef conservation through research, education, and community action.

In this episode, we dive into how art, science, and storytelling are being used in powerful ways to protect one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems. You'll discover how public art installations beneath the sea are connecting people to the reef, how citizen science is turning everyday adventurers into ocean guardians, and what we can learn from extreme events like ship groundings and out-of-control seaweed outbreaks.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro & Cairns Pollution Spill Update
• 4:49 Introducing Dr Adam Smith
• 10:02 Ship Groundings on the Reef
• 11:23 Sewerage Impacts on the Reef
• 14:07 The Marine Science Capital of the World
• 15:22 An "Explosive" Diving Assignment
• 20:57 The Biggest Threat to the Reef
• 22:21 When Seaweed Grows Too Much
• 27:54 How Tourists can Help With Citizen Science
• 31:30 The Museum of Underwater Art
• 37:38 Join The Great Southern Bioblitz!
• 42:00 60 Years On: Re-Surveying Iconic Ellison Reef
• 44:31 Adam's Final Message For Everyone