Out of the Blue

Tessa campisi speaks to Jack Manera, who studies behavial ecology and ecotoxicology at Monash University, to talk about some of his ~amazing~ experiments investigating the impacts of pharmaceutical contaminants on how fish think. Read up on Jack's other research: www.jackmanera.comDonate to Out of the Blue this radiothon!www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblue2026 Image credit: Jack L. Manera, Eleanor...

In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat to Jayne Burton (who is a graduate student of the Bachelor of Agriculture & Technology degree program of Melbourne Polytechnic, specialising in aquaculture) of Native Fish Australia. Jayne has a wealth of experience in keeping ornamental fish, and discusses her love of fish and the parasites that sometimes stalk them! She tells our listeners what it is l...

In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat to Chiara Wuller, a PhD student originally from Germany, who is now studying in the Netherlands, who has come to Australia as part of a study tour, and who has wasted no time in establishing some excellent networks amongst various marine conservation groups throughout Victoria and Australia. Chiara is studying her PhD on communication science and how peo...

In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat to Phil Watson, who is a very well-regarded aquatic photographer who loves getting in the water in a plethora of locations, and whose work has delighted many enthusiasts for years. Phil generously gave his time to provide some insights into photography in the underwater world, including a number of tips for beginners and experienced photographers alike. 

Woven from seaweed, scultped from sand and carefully blown into bubbles, fish nesting and parental care is breathtaking in its diversity, and offers a glimpse inside the minds of our little finned friends. On today's show, Tessa Campisi speaks to Professor Bob Wong of the school of Biological Sciences at Monash University about the breathtaking nest building behaviours of fish. Bob's Lab: www.bobw...

In this episode of Out of the Blue, Andrew discussed the recent spate of shark attacks in NSW and what people can do to avoid unfortunate accidents. 

On today's show, Tessa speaks with Dr Maina Talia, Tuvalu's Minister for Climate Change, Environmnent and Home Affairs. They talk about activism, theology, and what it means to be good geopolticial neighbours in the context of climate change. Dr. Maina's PhD can be found here: AM I NOT YOUR TŪ/AKOI? A TUVALUAN PLEA FOR SURVIVAL IN A TIME OF CLIMATE EMERGENCY - Charles Sturt University Research Out...

We love talking about marine science on Out of the Blue, especially when it brings good tidings for our ocean ecosystems.  Translating scientific nuance into news stories, however, can be a minefield for misinformation. In this episode, Tessa Campisi speaks to Dr Gabi Mocatta, senior research fellow in climate communication at the University of Tasmania, to unpick how research findings indicating...

In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat about the recent influx of jellyfish to Port Phillip Bay, most notably bluebottles and lion’s mane jellyfish, and what you can do to avoid being stung, and what to do for first aid in a worst-case scenario. He also pays tribute to an amazing researcher and person, Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO, who sadly passed away after a battle with cance...

From European invasion to convict transportation to World War II, Australia's history is a history of the seas. It's a queer history too - from Edward De Lacy Evans to Matthew Flinders, Australia's maritime history is filled with a cast of queer characters. Dr Graham Willett from the Australian Queer Archives is uncovering the Australia's fascinating queer maritime history. He talks to Out Of The...

Climate action group "Rising Tide" has been making waves in the media after successfully turning around 3 coal ships and shutting down operations in the Port of Newcastle, Australia's largest coal port, through non-violent direct action. Tessa Campisi reports on what it was like on the ground at the blockade, and speaks with Nick Willis, a communty organiser with the Naarm/Melbourne hub of Rising...

Therese from Darebin Creek Management Committee joined us to chat about the frogs living along Darebin Creek and how volunteers can help monitor frog populations and care for the Creek. Links:https://dcmc.org.au/info@dcmc.org.auhttps://www.givenow.com.au/manyhandsonecreekhttps://www.melbournewater.com.au/education/citizen-science/frog-census 

Since March 2025, marine life in South Australia's seas has been devastated by an ongoing harmful algal bloom. But algae are a normal and important part of marine ecosystems - so why have they turned killer? To find out, scientists are racing to identifying the microscopic culprits. We speak to Dr Greta Gaiani from the University of Technology, Sydney about her new research. Surprisingly, one of t...

In this episode, Andrew Christie interviews Logan Chandler, a student at the University of Melbourne whose interests lie in marine science and science communications. The wide-ranging discussion ranged from childhood influences that helped to shape his interests and tertiary learning journey to making videos based on velvet cushion seastars and the rise of artificial intelligence, with some marine...

Over the warmer months, Australia becomes home to 37 species of migratory shorebirds which regularly visit our shores. Among them is the black tailed godwit, which was listed as endangered in July, showing a population decline of almost 80% since the 1990s. On today's show, Tessa speaks to professor Richard Fuller, an expert of migratory shorebird conservation, about their amazing lifeways, the de...

 Brian Robinson joined us on Out of the Blue to chat about his new exhibition, Ur Wayii (Incoming Tide), currently showing at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Born on Waiben (Thursday Island) and now based in Cairns, Brian is of the Kala Lagaw Ya and Wuthathi language groups of the Torres Strait. We spoke about the influence his upbringing in the tropical marine environment around Waiben h...

In this episode, Andrew Christie introduces a podcast that has been produced from Parks Victoria called “Closer to Nature.” This is an edited extract of Episode 4, which is entitled “Species behaving badly,” and features a very interesting discussion on sea urchins. Parks Victoria were kind enough to give me permission to use this excellent interview featuring Dr Mark Norman, CEO of Parks Victoria...

Did you know that you can swim with seahorses, octopus and fiddler rays, less than 10km from Melbourne CBD? Host Tessa Campisi speaks with Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Committee member Dr Sandy Webb about the grassroots campaign to extend protected area status to ‘The Crystals’ on Bunurung Country,  Williamstown. LINKS - Jawbone Marine Sanctuay Website: https://www.jawbone.org.au/Sign the Petition: ht...

Most people living in Australia live near the coast, but many of us who don't work in marine science can be disconnected from what's happening in the ocean and our role in protecting it. That's why there's a growing body of research, advocacy and education work aiming to build our ocean literacy, both locally and all around the world. Dr Prue Francis, a senior lecturer in marine science at Deakin...

Bycatch is a big problem for ocean life, causing the deaths of thousands of marine animals. Reducing the number of animals caught accidentally is key to caring for the sea. New research shows that some fishers are very good at minimising bycatch. Dr Leslie Roberson at the University of Queensland joins us to discuss why this might be. You can read more of Leslie's research here.  

In this episode, Andrew Christie interviews Zandy Beer of Marine Care Point Cooke on an exciting trip to Whyalla in South Australia for the annual cuttlefish migration.

Have you ever seen a hunk of seaweed and been compelled to have a lil nibble? This week, scientific illustrator and nature tutor Chris Rockley takes us seaweed foraging on the coast in Portland, on Gundijtimaara Country. We talk about the ethics and laws around harvesting, where and when to forage, what to avoid, and how to eat it! To join one of Chris' seaweed workshops, or to check out her resou...

In Cyprus, water has been shaped by partition and postcolonial state-building, turning it into something divided. But through collective imagination, water can also be seen as a shared commons. In his research Decommonisation of Water in Divided Cyprus and arts practice Printed Geographies, Nicolas Mouros explores how water moves across military bases, buffer zones, and dividing lines - and how th...

Since January 2025, a marine heatwave has triggered a devastating algal bloom in South Australia, and there's no relief in sight for marine life. Thousands of dead animals have washed ashore on beaches over the past six months. Scientists are racing to understand this event. Ecologist Faith Coleman joins us to explain the latest news, and what we can do to prevent these disasters in the future. Im...

From hauling ropes and sails, to emmigration and endentured labour, sea shanties have been sung by sea faring people all over the world, and offer glimpse of the world that came before the one we know today.  Tessa Campisi speaks to Gus Franklin, of the Southern Ocean Sea Band, a 10-piece folk group who write and perform sea shanties for their beloved south-west Victorian coast, on Eastern Maar an...