On a Lifelong Journey to Learn my Place
Featuring a conversation with David Jadhon. David had previously visited Sitka for birding, but when this conversation was recorded he had come to search for nudibranchs. We spoke about birding and his burgeoning interest in marine invertebrates. He also shared some of his experiences working as a research assistant on Middleton Island studying the Black-legged Kittiwakes that nest there.
Featuring a conversation with Matt Bracken, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Irvine. Matt grew up in Petersburg, Alaska and has been returning to Southeast Alaska each summer for the past decade to continue studies investigating marine biodiversity and ecological resilience, especially in the intertidal zones.
Featuring a conversation with Gavin McNichol, assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. We discussed his work studying wetland soil biochemistry. He is currently starting a project in Sitka studying the impact of Yellow Cedar decline on microclimate and soil carbon.
Featuring a conversation with marine biologist Lauren Wild. Lauren shared about recent work to better understand how Gray Whales are utilizing Sitka Sound. This work began in response to increasing numbers beginning in 2018. She also discussed how Humpback Whales have been doing after lean years during the marine heat wave of a decade ago.
The September 22nd radio show featured Kari Sagel and Kitty LaBounty discussing their passion for drawing plants. Kari shared insights from her online Botanical Illustration course taken through the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh. Both highlighted how their illustrations deepened their understanding of plants, showcasing selected works during the conversation.
A conversation with Niki Sridhar, a PhD student at the University of Santa Cruz who has been doing field work for her research in Sitka. We discussed her research on sun stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), their impact on sea urchin behavior, and implications for efforts to help restore and maintain kelp forest habitats.