Ocean health & conservation

Nathan Robinson (OK 2002) is a renowned marine biologist who was at the forefront of the anti-plastics campaign when the film of him removing a drinking straw from a turtle’s nostril went viral. We were delighted to host a hugely successful webinar with him in January followed by a Q&A session where he told us more about his passion for ocean life.

What’s the best thing about being a marine biologist?

I love that it gives you endless opportunities to travel and explore! However, I think the best thing is probably that as a marine biologist working in ocean conservation you are part of a larger global collective that is working tirelessly towards improving the health of the oceans. The sense of purpose and fulfillment that are connected with work such as this cannot be beaten!

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

The more of the world that you see, the more you realise that everywhere is equally amazing but for different reasons. That said, one of my favorite feelings in the world is when you are swimming in the ocean and when you look down, you see nothing but blue. So, my favorite place would be anywhere far from shore!

Do you think it will ever be possible to remove all of the plastic from the world’s oceans?

Sadly, no. As plastic degrades, it continues to break down into ever smaller pieces of plastic. The smaller that these pieces get, the harder they are to remove. These ‘microplastics’ are now found everywhere including the deepest point of the ocean – the Mariana Trench – at over 11,000m. We can remove the larger pieces but these smaller ones will remain until they biodegrade into their constituent molecules, a process that will take thousands of years. For us to have plastic-free oceans, we would need to stop adding extra plastic into the ocean and keep doing so for thousands of years! That said, this does not mean that our current fight against plastic pollution is hopeless. An ocean with one less plastic bag is still a cleaner ocean – and so every little helps.

If you could choose any conservation project to be a part of, what would it be?

Something with penguins. Last year, I went on a research trip to Antarctica and since then I’ve been obsessed with penguins!

What are your top three favourite animals?

I am going to prohibit myself from being too predictable and so I won’t mention giant squid or sea turtles. Instead, I’ll go with: Adelie penguins – they are the cutest animals alive and my latest obsession!

Lowland gorillas – gorillas always remind me that the difference between animals and humans is not quite as obvious as we often think. When you look into the eyes of a gorilla, you see an incredible intelligence and a capacity for emotion that feels, for lack of a better word, ‘human’. Malayan tapir – a little-known animal that looks like a mix between an elephant and a pig. One of my first life-changing animal encounters was with a wild tapir in Malaysia and since then they have held a special place in my heart.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I would redefine what we considered to be a ‘successful’ life. We typically associate success with material wealth or power but I don’t agree. In my opinion, success is found in building meaningful connections with the people that surround us by working together for common goals. If we all strived to build deeper connections with each other and to build a global society that provides opportunities for everyone, I think the planet would be a much happier and healthier place.

How has your role changed since your videos went viral and how does it feel to know that millions of people have watched your videos?

Seeing the impact of my videos really sent me down a different path. Since then, I have spent less time in ‘hands-on’ conservation and more time using social media to enact behavioral change on a global scale. I feel very proud of the impact that my videos have had. It really has been a dream come true to think that my efforts have helped make the ocean that little bit cleaner.

You obviously love being a marine biologist but are there any other jobs you would like to do?

I have always been obsessed with monsters, and especially misunderstood giants such as Godzilla and King Kong. I also love drawing so I have often thought that if I hadn’t ended up as a marine biologist, I would have tried to work in creature design and animation for movies or TV shows.

What is a normal day at work for you?

Right now, I live in Barcelona and my life is much like most people who live in a city! For about 15 years, however, I would spend about 8 hours per night walking up and down beaches in Costa Rica, South Africa, Greece and The Bahamas to search for and protect nesting sea turtles. When I wasn’t patrolling for sea turtles, the rest of my day was a mix of sleeping, surfing and writing on my computer!

Who is someone in your profession that you really admire and why?

Dr Edith ‘Edie’ Widder: she was the first person to ever film a live giant squid and is a leading expert in bioluminescence (the light created by animals). Yet even though Edie is an intellectual powerhouse and international celebrity, she has remained inspiringly humble and will happily talk to anyone who is interested in ocean conservation. She’s been a mentor of mine for years and she makes me want to not only be a better scientist but a better human. I also can’t help but mention another long-term mentor of mine, Dr Pilar ‘Bibi’ Santidrian Tomillo. Bibi has dedicated her life to protecting the East Pacific leatherback turtle – the most endangered sea turtle population in the world. She has a selfless commitment to conservation and always ‘puts the turtles first’. She is an inspiration to everyone who knows her.

Huge thanks to Nathan for being so generous with his time. You can watch the webinar with Nathan here and learn more about his work by scanning the QR code below.

Ms A Williams I Director of Marketing & Admissions