76 Dr. Heather Spence: Ocean World of Sound & The Secret Communications of Life All Around Us

Dr. Heather R. Spence is a marine bioacoustics expert with a PhD in behavioral neuroscience whose background as a musician and composer led her to focus on how ocean life communicates with sound, the impacts of sound on aquatic environments, and researching the world’s coral reefs. Her groundbreaking the work not only educates the public, but it also bridges the gap between conventional scientists and citizen scientist, and carries broader implications that apply to our terrestrial world. Interesting Topics Covered:Snapping Shrimp Research: How these tiny creatures produce some of the loudest ocean sounds and Dr. Spence's innovative approach to studying them alive rather than preservedSound in Water vs. Air: Why sound travels faster and farther underwater due to water density, making it central to marine lifeDolphin Communication: The sophistication of dolphin vocalizations and echolocation, plus their use of sound for spatial navigationOcean Noise Pollution: How human-generated sounds (boat motors, wind farms) disrupt marine life communication and behaviorOcean World of Sound Initiative: A groundbreaking project using passive acoustic monitoring to collect long-term underwater soundscape data in the Mesoamerican ReefCitizen Science: Making ocean sound recordings publicly accessible via YouTube for community engagement and educationPlants and Sound: How plants produce ultrasonic sounds, respond to acoustic stimuli, and alter soundscapesBlindness and Sensory Perception: Personal discussion about echolocation, spatial awareness through sound, and how blind individuals may inadvertently exhibit body language interpreted as deceptiveYou can find Dr. Spence on her website at heatherspence.net.Follow And Support The Show Follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. And if that happens to be on YouTube, like this video too before sharing the episode with family and friends. Website: zachtidwell.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388Instagram: @ZachCTidwellLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/X: @ZachCTidwellApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-in-blind-with-zach-tidwell/id1787306128Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51IxT43v95otwaXDkyr6FWYouTube: @ZachCTidwell #GIB #GoingInBlindPodcast theme music by Transistor.fm.