As part of Canada’s Science Literacy Week, The Story Collider and Ocean Wise are collaborating to host a special ocean themed show at the Vancouver Aquarium. Come hear five true, personal stories about science while sea lions swim behind you.
Hosted by Kayla Glynn and Josh Silberg.
Our show is made possible with the support of the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, which seeks to preserve the world’s most treasured landscapes and seascapes.
ABOUT CANADA’S SCIENCE LITERACY WEEK
A nationwide celebration highlighting the excellence and diversity of science outreach events, resources and organizations from coast to coast! Join us in a week-long celebration of science and oceans research in Canada.
ABOUT OCEAN WISE
Ocean Wise is a global ocean conservation organization focused on protecting and restoring our world’s oceans.
With stories by:
Holly Neate graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science degree, focusing on Oceanography and Biology. Although most graduates pursue research with this degree, Holly chose the education route, which has led to some fascinating jobs across the coast of British Columbia. Holly's passion is ocean literacy: understanding the ocean’s impact on us, and our impact on the ocean. She sits on the Executive Board of the Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE) and Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME), helping to plan international conferences and provide resources for other ocean educators.
Natasha Jategaonkar is a lawyer practicing labour and employment law in Vancouver, British Columbia. In her spare time, Natasha kayaks, trains a martial art called capoeira, and practices her craft of storytelling. Before entering law school, Natasha worked for seven years as an epidemiologist and health researcher. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and immunology and a Master of Science degree in community health and epidemiology. Natasha recently tried snorkelling for the first time and loved it.
As a marine mammal research scientist at Ocean Wise, Valeria Vergara designs and conducts studies on beluga whales and other marine mammals. Trained as a behavioral ecologist, she has participated in a diverse array of wildlife studies around the world, including baboons in Kenya, red foxes in Ontario, humpback whales in Newfoundland, Guiana dolphins in Colombia, killer whales in Argentina, and beluga whales in various areas of Canada. Her work during the past 17 years has focused on acoustic communication in beluga whales. Her PhD research, through the University of British Columbia, was the first to document how beluga calves develop their rich vocal repertoires, and to identify calls used for group cohesion and mother-calf contact. Her research addresses the impacts of anthropogenic noise on beluga populations and the challenges such sound-centered species face in their increasingly noisy environment.
Mike Funergy first discovered his love for storytelling while wandering the markets of Morocco and watching old storytellers captivate the crowd. Upon returning to Canada he discovered the Toronto Storytelling Festival and found a new appreciation for folklore and mythology, and especially loves tales from the Jewish tradition. He now tells stories at the Vancouver Story Slam, and has made it to the finals for the past 2 years. Mike has studied Expressive Arts Therapy, and currently works for a non-profit organization helping adults with developmental disabilities discover what they want to do in their lives.
Lauren Eckert is a conservation scientist, adventure enthusiast, and Ph.D. student at the University of Victoria. Lauren’s early research experiences around the globe exposed her to the complexities of interrelated social and ecological systems and motivated her to delve into conservation science that upholds Indigenous knowledge and rights. Her recent work at the interface of social and ecological sciences aims to uplift Indigenous knowledge systems alongside empirical scientific studies using a community-engaged, Indigenous-led approach to conservation in partnership with Central Coast First Nations in the area now commonly referred to as the Great Bear Rainforest. Lauren is a Vanier Scholar, Raincoast Conservation Fellow, National Geographic Explorer, dog mom, avid hiker, and peanut butter aficionada.