For over thirty years, Professor Dawn Murray has built a career in marine science by following her curiosity wherever it led. That path has included jellyfish research at Monterey Bay, documenting Indigenous medicinal plant knowledge in Bhutan, and serving on the advisory council of the first Indigenous-led National Marine Sanctuary in the United States. In this conversation with Martina, she walks through the key turns in her career and the people and places that shaped it — and examines how ocean science translates into education, policy, and real-world action.

In this episode

How a lifelong curiosity for the ocean became a 30+ year career in marine science
Ocean systems, nutrient cycles, and why they matter far beyond the shoreline
How manta rays reveal the health of ocean ecosystems
Working alongside Indigenous communities from Tulum to Bhutan to Hawai‘i
Challenging students to apply ocean science in their own communities
Grassroots activism, policy, and the long game of ocean conservation

Key moments

(00:00) Introduction: Dawn Murray, marine scientist and professor

(01:48) Growing up coastal: Hawaii, Santa Barbara, and a love of the ocean

(04:07) From art history and Italian to marine science

(06:01) Jellyfish, marine snow, and master's research at Monterey Bay

(09:24) PhD work and citizen science in the intertidal

(11:22) Intertidal ecology and human shoreline impacts

(14:56) Why ocean health is essential for human survival

(15:42) The global ocean conveyor belt explained

(19:39) Phytoplankton, food webs, and climate regulation

(24:30) The discovery of the third manta species

(25:12) Mantas as nutrient movers and ecosystem connectors

(27:40) What is plankton? Phytoplankton vs. zooplankton

(32:11) Why lights attract plankton at night

(34:30) Lifelong curiosity and resilient ecosystems

(38:55) Teaching graduate students across the globe

(46:00) Environmental awareness: Europe vs America

(49:08) From awareness to action: activism and policy

(52:50) The Tribal Trust Foundation and advocating for Indigenous voices

(55:56) Preserving Indigenous medicinal plant knowledge in Bhutan

(01:00:23) The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

(01:03:10) Miloli‘i: community-led ocean stewardship

(01:07:55) Curiosity, connection, and protecting what we love

Resources

• Episode page and resources: oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/dawn-murray-marine-biologist
• Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter
• More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com
• Watch the full video on YouTube

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A marine biologist connecting coastlines, classrooms, and conservation (with Dawn Murray)