Joy Davis on Blending Art and Marine Science at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Host Jessica Leigh Lebos welcomes back Joy Davis, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center’s permanent artist-in-residence, a biologist-artist known for the Center’s three-dimensional North Atlantic right whale model of “Smoke” and life-size sea turtle models.   Davis discusses how homeschooling, travel as an Air Force brat, and a blended arts-and-science college path shaped her career, plus her move to Savannah/Tybee through teaching, bartending, ocean-driven volunteering, and eventually working at the Science Center. She explains the research and collaboration required to make the whale anatomically accurate, including reproducing Smoke’s unique callosities and adding 3D-printed “lice.”   Davis also describes work with Animal Exhibits and Designs creating zoo/aquarium environments, new Tybee exhibits like a sit-in osprey nest, four tiled ecosystem murals (marsh, maritime forest, dunes/beach, and Gray’s Reef), and a newly approved backyard pollinator and memorial-style garden.   Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode: Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram   Where's Westie UPDATES   What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center Resources: Become a MEMBER Volunteer at Tybee Island Marine Science Center Partnership and Donation Opportunities Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Tybee Podcast 00:45 Meet Joy Davis 02:21 Homeschool Roots 04:35 College and Mentors 05:43 Moving to Savannah 07:12 Tybee Ocean Pull 08:35 DIY Science Center Builds 09:17 Making the Right Whale 12:07 Smoke Fingerprints 14:09 Zoo Fabrication Work 16:18 Research First Process 17:04 Osprey Nest Exhibit 19:57 Murals Reveal 20:45 Mentor Polly Cooper 21:26 Barrier Island Ecosystems 23:49 Tile Craft Process 25:35 Firing Glazing Install 27:06 Backyard Garden Plans 28:49 Surfing Intuition Story 31:59 Wild Water Encounters 34:07 Teamwork Farewell 36:06 Science Center Membership