About the Episode: In this episode of As Above, So Below, recorded at the headquarters of One Ocean Foundation in Milan during its annual Scientific Committee meeting, we sit down with Carlos Duarte to explore the ocean as a living system - and as a healer, teacher and source of planetary medicine carrying deep memory across time. Co-hosted by Jan Pachner, Secretary General of One Ocean Foundation, the conversation moves fluidly between cutting-edge marine science and older, often overlooked forms of knowledge, including ancestral relationships with the sea, traditional stewardship practices, and ways of understanding the ocean that predate modern scientific frameworks. Together, we reflect on how Indigenous and ancestral wisdom can coexist with contemporary research, offering complementary pathways toward care, balance and regeneration. As we discuss climate change, biodiversity loss, and the future of ocean conservation, this episode invites listeners to consider the sea not only as a biophysical system, but as an active teacher and healer - a keeper of planetary memory and a connective force between generations, cultures, and ecosystems. The ocean emerges not merely as an object of study, but as medicine, shaping both ecological and human futures. In the spirit of As Above, So Below, the dialogue reminds us that what we inherit from the past, through science, story, and ancestral knowledge, profoundly shapes the futures we are still capable of imagining. The Speaker: Carlos Duarte is one of the world’s leading marine ecologists and a globally respected authority on ocean science, climate change, and marine conservation. He is a Distinguished Professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where his work continues to advance understanding of ocean ecosystems, blue carbon, and the vital role the sea plays in regulating Earth’s climate. Dr. Duarte is widely recognized not only for his scientific contributions, but also for his commitment to translating complex science into action - advocating for ocean regeneration, protection, and evidence-based solutions at a planetary scale. As a member of the One Ocean Foundation Scientific Committee, he plays a central role in guiding research, strategy, and long-term vision for ocean stewardship, helping to shape a future in which science, culture, and action are deeply interconnected, and where the ocean is recognized not only as a system to protect, but as a teacher and medicine for life on Earth. ''As Above, So Below'' is a collaborative podcast season between ZEITGEIST19 and One Ocean Foundation, focused on biodiversity and ocean conservation and planetary well-being. Follow Carlos Duarte's journey on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow ZEITGEIST19's journey on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow One Ocean Foundation's journey on Instagram and LinkedIn
