Better Worlds

Less than 0.002% of the deep ocean has been explored. Diving miles beneath the waves usually requires access to specialized and scarce technology, time on one of a handful of large research ships, and the funds to afford it all. In this episode of Ocean, Kate Wing opens a conversation with scientist Dr. Jessica Sandoval about her work with underwater robotics and how low-cost sensors can give everyone a view of the ocean’s depths. 

Jessica is the director of sensors and systems with the Ocean Discovery League, a nonprofit that puts deep sea technology into the hands of coastal communities around the world They’ve codesigned platforms like the Maka Niu, which can carry a mix of off-the-shelf imaging and ocean monitoring sensors 4500 feet deep. The resulting data can  inform local environmental decision-making and power AI to map global ocean biodiversity..

A Robotics Engineer and pilot of Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), 

Jessica has a unique perspective on the deepest parts of our ocean planet. Tune in to hear more about becoming an ocean explorer along with some Jessica’s favorite sights, from hydrothermal vents to the life encompassing the USS Independence shipwreck. Host Kate Wing and Jessica talk about the delicate work of using robotics to examine sea life and how ocean creatures themselves often provide the solutions to technical challenges..

Tune into Ocean and subscribe to our Better Worlds YouTube Channel to see all of our shows, from Ocean to Green Planet Blue Planet with Julian Guderley, to Restore-A-Thon™ where we explore solutions for restoring the environment in the aftermath of environmental disasters such as the recent Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.. Hit the “bell” button to be notified of new episodes. 

#deepsea #exploration #robotics #ocean #science #biomimicry #submersibles

Better Worlds Host Kate Wing explores the life of tuna and the people that catch them with the Worldwide Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Tuna Program Manager Alfred “Bubba” Cook. Taking a wandering migratory path starting on the Texas Gulf Coast, Bubba made his way to fisheries conservation and management via the U.S. Navy and Alaska. He also served in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific Islands before making his way to New Zealand to focus on Pacific tuna.

The ocean covers  71 percent of Earth, but collectively little is known about it. In this Ocean podcast episode, Ernst van der Poll, talks with Host Kate Wing from Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica about successful ways to connect people with the ocean, offering experiences from the beach to the depths. Using STEM education and new technology, Connect Ocean is inspiring new explorers to gather data and expand their knowledge of marine ecosystems in their own backyards. Connect Ocean is setting the stage for  community scientists to make a difference and have an impact where they live.

Ernst began his work in Dubai, where he founded Tawasul to encourage youth to put down their digital devices and get outside and connect with nature. He worked to get people underwater, from  first bubbles in a pool to the first dive into the ocean, in under an hour, followed by education and skill development. Now Ernst works to connect scientists and communities to gather critical data and take action. 

In a project in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, local participants used a marine debris identification app to explore the intertidal zone and collect trash. .. They then shared that data with a coalition of NGOs, known as Suncoast Rise Above Plastics, that are working to stop single-use plastic. 

Tune in to learn more about developing guidebooks for all inclusive participatory science as a force in overall conservation practices. Hear how participants are making an impact on climate and ocean by learning to map and better understand their local ecosystems via technology and exploration.

BIO

Ernst Van der Poll is an Ocean Explorer and PADI Course Director with more than 10,000 dives experience. He grew up on the shores of Africa’s east coast and the Ocean is part of his professional life ever since.

During his 14 years in the Middle East, Ernst founded Tawasul, the very first marine-themed, place based experiential learning program in the region. The program engaged more than 2000 kids from 2002 to 2011, many of whom are studying marine sciences now. He was also appointed personal diving instructor and safety officer for the Crown Prince of Dubai and worked with Palestinian refugees with physical disabilities.

After moving to Costa Rica, he founded ConnectOcean and one of the first All ability diving programs in Central America, helping people with life changing injuries to enjoy the Ocean through scuba diving.

Today, Ernst conducts Corporate Team Building and CSR programs, and keeps on teaching scuba diving as his schedule permits. He collaborates with many internationally renowned educators, researchers and innovators in order to inspire the next generation of environmentalists and leaders.

Presented by BetterWorlds.com

Produced by dstudio.earth DAO, growing on Hypha.earth

A volcanic eruption in 1997 forced the relocation of half of Montserrat’s population. Veta Wade became a volcano refugee just as she was graduating from secondary school. Upon her return to Montserrat, Veta was even more committed to learn about ocean and marine life, spending all of her free time with fishermen in the area, feeding her passion. Veta learned to swim on her own, then snorkel. She then answered the call to inspire Caribbean children to become more involved in their own seascape and contribute to the solutions that would save our ocean.

#montserrat #conservation #education #carribean #grassroots #community

Coming out of the rigidity of government, Linzi Hawkin asked herself: How can we find creative and innovative ways to talk about ocean that will engage people and make a greater impact?

Do you know where on the Keeling Curve your birthdate lies? Better Worlds guest Brian Von Herzen, Ph.D., does and has watched it rise over the decades of his life from 315 parts per million (PPM) of CO2 to more than 420 ppm today.

#ocean #ai #conservation #co2

Join us on Better Worlds Ocean as we welcome Stephanie O'Donnell from Wild Labs, a community connecting people working with conservation technology at all levels. Stephanie shares the story of how Wild Labs got started in 2015 as a collaboration between world's biggest conservation NGOs and how their mission has evolved to focus on connecting the conservation community with other sectors and communities to find solutions for global challenges. Listen in as Stephanie also shares her own experience of being a wildlife ecologist and how the realization that conservationist had limited access to the technology that consumers had led to her involvement in Wild Labs.

In this episode, Stephanie O'Donnell talks about the shift in roles that Wild Labs began to take on in 2015 to become a neutral actor in the community. We explore the importance of community building and how it is essential in scaling solutions for climate change, ocean issues, and other natural world issues. Stephanie shares how Wild Labs has been led by people, not organizations, and how it is all about building relationships and trusting one another. Lastly, we discuss how collaboration and relationships are formed over multiple interactions in different forms and different spaces.

Discover how Wild Labs has created a powerful collaborative force by providing an involving environment for conservation tech users and developers. We discuss Wild Labs' State of the Conservation Tech Field report that surveys the different technology areas and highlights what is working, what isn't, and what is needed. Wild Labs has evolved from a collaboration between conservation organizations to a neutral actor in the community, providing a pathway into deep partnerships and innovative opportunities. Lastly, we learn about the surprising use of peanut butter on manta rays. Don't miss this insightful conversation with Stephanie O'Donnell!

(0:14:07) - Building Community for Conservation Innovation

Wild Labs facilitates community needs, builds relationships, and encourages collaboration to scale solutions for nature.

(0:18:28) - Conservation Tech and Partnerships

Wild Labs provides a collaborative environment to survey conservation tech, evolve into a neutral actor, and explore innovative opportunities, such as using peanut butter on manta rays.

(0:24:13) - The Future of Conservation Technology

Collaboration, 'NASA for Conservation', State of Conservation Tech, Movement Ecology, AI and Analytical Techniques are discussed to respond to conservation challenges.

(0:30:58) - Women in Conservation Tech Program

Wild Labs' Women in Conservation Tech project, creating a collaborative environment, and potential of a 'NASA for Conservation' are discussed, as well as enthusiasm for a marine focused event.

#WildLabs #conservation #technology #innovation #community #climatechange #ocean #ecology #collaboration #partnerships #AI #analyticaltechniques #movementecology #NASAforConservation #WomenInConservationTech

Why do giant squid, hunters of the deepest ocean, have such big eyes? How do you go from being a scientist on the deck of a ship to funding ocean innovators? And what kind of discoveries does the ocean need now? Erika Montague, chief technologist with Schmidt Marine, explores these questions and more with Host Kate Wing, founder of The Intertidal Agency, on this first episode of the Ocean series.

Erika Mongague, chief technologist with Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, explores the question: “why on Earth do squid have eyes that are so big?”

LED lights have been in use for a long time but only recently improved to the point they could be used to find the giant squid in the deep, dark ocean. Now with LED lights and the mimicry of jellyfish behavior, ocean scientists are capturing film and new data in their search for the giant squid.

It turns out, they are looking for jellyfish, where other tasty fish hide. Scientists now use bioluminescence from LED lights to flash and create a signal, or a decoy, to lure the squid closer to their tracking devices and cameras. In this inaugural episode of Better Worlds Ocean, Erika explains the process of hunting the giant squid followed by a discussion on microgrants, Web 3 innovation proposals and startup funding.

About Erika

Erika Montague is the Chief Technologist at Schmidt Marine Technology Partners. She is an oceanographer, explorer and evangelist of technology for a healthier ocean, with a Ph.D. in oceanography from Johns Hopkins University. She works as a consultant with Schmidt Marine. Her past research has involved work with submersibles and unmanned vehicles with a focus on the development of novel, nondestructive methods for studying extreme and remote marine environments. Erika has led cruises to study bioluminescent life forms, and marine debris, and to test underwater technologies for use at the surface and down to the deepest parts of the ocean, including work on the land and submersible teams for James Cameron’s DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition. She aims to bridge the gap between diverse stakeholders to create more sustainable technologies, and works on outreach efforts that leverages the technology driven culture of today to empower the next generation.

If you are watching Web3 at all, you’ve likely run into many self-starters in Estonia. You may ask yourself:  Why is Estonia the Silicon Valley of Europe?

Stenver Jerkku, aka Stenver from Denver, who is actually from Tallinn, Estonia explains this phenomenon to Better Worlds Host Julian Guderley in this episode of Carbonomics.

It’s like this. Estonia is very cold and the nights are very long and dark. So what else is there to do but start companies and build tech online?

That’s one story.

The other is that Estonia is also the birthplace of Skype, so there are some built in major tech successes to lead aspiring entrepreneurs that are pursuing Web 3 development. Estonia has only a population of 3.1 million people. However, since Skye’s creation, about three generations of new techies have been nurtured and nourished into start-up founders or employees. since Skype was created, Stenver said. Low numbers of people and a small country causes an entrepreneur to think global right out of the gate. That’s done by also creating tight knit communities in the “land of Unicorns” through the Estonian Founders Society.

Stenver uses that community building strength thriving in Estonia within Top Tier Impact, which connects investors with entrepreneurs wanting to work on climate impact projects and to teach others how to start carbon projects with impact.

Solid World DAO is rethinking and accelerating carbon supply chain financing through fair, transparent and liquid markets with blockchain in a fast-growing market expected to reach $50 billion by 2030.

Stenver is a serial entrepreneur, having founded multiple startups besides Solid World DAO, like eAgronom, a post-series-A startup, Handyman and Click. Stenver has been involved with various impact-focused volunteering organizations, like the Estonian Founders Society, where he lead the board with Martin Villing(Bolt) and Sten Tamkivi (Taavet+Sten, Topia, NFT Port). Top Tier Impact, which connects impact-focused investors and entrepreneurs. Some members include Ambienta, the world's largest($1B) private equity fund focused exclusively on impact, and Agate €100M impact-focused fund. Leaders For Climate Action with members like South Pole, Spotify, Klarna and others.

How do we connect big global organizations with the grounded action, the local work happening  in communities to address climate change?

In this episode of Better Worlds, OceanKan Executive Director Dr. Linwood Pendleton, speaks to the importance of harnessing the energy of the people who live with nature, understand how nature is changing and how people interact with nature, to bring local solutions to scale.

The Ocean Knowledge Action Network involves  communities from First Nations Canada, to partners in Brazil, The Seychelles, Malaysia, Taipei and others. A seasoned conservation and environmental management professional with more than 20 years of experience, Linwood discusses the matching of global partners and funders to the cultural, economic and ecological context of every region.

Linwood addresses the role of the U.N. in the climate theater, recognizing the benefits of having a global convener and the weaknesses of centralized leadership, while also diving deeper into the relationships between global “saviors” and regional actors to address the millions of problems happening simultaneously that involve biodiversity and people of many cultures.

Linwood is a believer that the best ideas are those from people who understand nature and people. You don’t have to be a scientist to work to save the oceans. Nor do you have to be an academic genius to be a conservation genius.

“Nature is the biggest part of our economy because when you improve nature everybody benefits. The economy is about. People who usually pay to get things that make them happier, healthier and better. That’s true of nature. There is no one worse off because nature is healthier.”

Dr. Linwood Pendleton

Linwood has a diverse background himself, working in academia, federal government, not-for-profit global conservation, and tech. He leads international initiatives and collaborations to solve global ocean challenges, and is also director of Moonjelly Academy, International Chair of Excellence at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale; Honorary Professor for the Global Change Institute and Senior Fellow at the Duke University Nicholas Institute.

Join Better World’s Host Julian Guderley as he and Linwood explore the questions of the carbon silver bullet, decentralization, and the practices that are more likely to have success in ocean transformation.