Moonlit seaweeds. Dreamy underwater forests. Mounds of beach debris. Not plants. Let’s talk about where seaweed grows and whether or not it will save us all. Macrophycology means “big-ass algae” so let’s join five dazzling seaweed enthusiasts: guest-in-chief Dr. Patrick Martone of the University of British Columbia, UConn Professor Emeritus and “grandfather of seaweed farming” Dr. Charlie Yarish, seagrass scientist Becky Swerida, and marine science PhD students Danielle McHaskell and Angela Jones. We’ll chat about what’s hidden in its cells, the best ones to eat, how fast it grows, how deep it gets, cold vs. tropical seaweeds, what to do if your vacation pictures feature mounds of sargassum, and whether or not kelp can kill a chicken. 

In next week’s episode, you’ll hear all about the aquaculture of cultivating and eating things from the seaweed to shellfish to shrimp farmed in a basement doughboy. Not really a two parter but two episodes that are friends and hang out in the same circles. 

Visit the Martone Lab and follow Dr. Martone on Google Scholar

Get the Seaweed Sorter app developed by Dr. Martone

Follow Dr. Charles Yarish on Google Scholar

Follow Danielle McHaskell on Instagram

Visit Angela Jones’ website

Follow Becky Swerida on Instagram

Donations went to Raincoast Education Society, GreenWave, and Black in Marine Science

More episode sources and links

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Oceanology (OCEANS), Island Ecology (ISLANDS), Cnidariology (CORAL), Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES), Bryology (MOSS), Echinology (SEA URCHINS & SAND DOLLARS), Lutrinology (OTTERS), Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS), Dendrology (TREES), Forensic Ecology (NATURE DETECTIVE)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn