Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast

Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network

Welcome to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast - an authentic Coastal experience. Join us in developing caring and responsible protection of Coastal Georgia’s natural resources. Together through education and conservation, we can make a difference.

  1. 5d ago

    Port Growth, Trash Traps, and River Protection with Savannah Riverkeeper’s Cloe LeMaire

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos sits down at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center with Cloe LeMaire, an environmental scientist and the Savannah Reuse System Outreach Coordinator for Savannah Riverkeeper. They dive deep into the major pressures currently facing the Savannah River, from port-driven growth to the rapid explosion of regional warehouses. What We Cover in This Episode The Warehouse Boom & Public Data: Cloe walks through a public GIS dashboard built alongside 100 Miles and Ogeechee Riverkeeper that tracks developers, permits, square footage, and timelines—with expansion plans heading into South Carolina. Trash Traps & Brand Data: Discover how 12 NOAA-funded trash traps installed since 2024 are capturing stormwater litter and tracking specific brand data, revealing a heavy footprint of takeout-related styrofoam. Reusables & AI Data Centers: Cloe shares updates on designing an open-loop reusable cup system for Savannah and discusses the delicate organizing happening around a proposed AI data center along the river. River Science & Restoration: The conversation rounds out with a look at ongoing oyster research, baseline water-quality monitoring supporting the restoration of river cutoff bends, and upcoming channel deepening and widening proposals. Get Involved Cloe invites listeners to join Savannah Riverkeeper, make use of their community reporting tools, and roll up their sleeves for a cleanup at Lake Mayer Park on September 12th. Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode: Tybee Island Maritime Academy   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

  2. Aug 6

    Beyond the Classroom: Experiential Learning at Tybee Island Maritime Academy

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos welcomes Tybee Island Maritime Academy science teacher and assistant principal Katie Holliday to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center podcast to discuss TIMA’s place-based, maritime-centered K–8 curriculum and daily experiential learning on Tybee’s beach and marshes.   Recorded from the Ship Watch Loft at Tybee Island Marine Science Center.    Holliday explains TIMA is a lottery-based charter school within Savannah-Chatham County Public School System that integrates STEAM through project/problem-based learning and community partnerships, including a NOAA Ocean Guardian native plant garden planted at the Marine Science Center with support from All The Buzz nursery. They highlight TIMA’s MATE ROV robotics program (earning high-school engineering credit) and a recent second-place finish.   Holiday shares her 17-year teaching journey and stewardship goals, discusses the school’s purchase of the former Thunderbolt Elementary to potentially expand beyond Tybee, notes TIMA’s established cellphone collection policy, and outlines thoughtful approaches to student AI use and STEAM recertification.   Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode: Tybee Island Maritime Academy   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

  3. Jul 23

    Turtles and Tide: A Deep Dive with the Caretta Research Project

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos records the Tybee Island Marine Science Center podcast from the Ship Watch loft and interviews Kristen Zemaitis, a biologist with the Caretta Research Project, a nonprofit loggerhead sea turtle research program on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge that has monitored nesting for 54 years.   Zemaitis explains how saturation tagging shows individual females can lay up to eight nests per season about two weeks apart, and discusses natal homing, genetics work with UGA and building paternal family trees from embryo DNA.   She describes night patrol fieldwork from May–August using volunteer teams, data collection (measurements, PIT/metal tags, blood/skin/cloacal samples, one egg per nest), nest relocation and predator screens, and challenges like heat, bugs, storms, coyotes, and alligators. The episode covers nesting cycles, TED impacts, satellite tagging, volunteer registration, fundraising, and education outreach.   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

  4. Jul 9

    Coastal Ocean Physics, Hurricanes, and Right Whales with Dr. Catherine Edwards

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos welcomes Dr. Catherine Edwards, a coastal physical oceanographer and professor at UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, to discuss how coastal ocean physics shapes ecosystems and forecasting.   Edwards describes her path from music and Spanish into applied physics and oceanography, and explains her work measuring temperature, salinity, density, tides, waves, and currents across Georgia’s wide continental shelf using research vessels, seafloor instruments, and autonomous gliders. She connects coastal processes to carbon export and sequestration, the Gulf Stream’s influence, and why real-time glider profiles improve hurricane intensity forecasts, including rapid intensification risk.   Edwards also details using quiet gliders with hydrophones to detect North Atlantic right whale calls, confirm detections with analysts, and send alerts through NOAA to tools like Whale Alert and Whale Map to help slow ships. The conversation includes river-driven events like undammed flood pulses reaching Gray’s Reef and a myth-busting aside about toilet swirl direction.   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 01:01 Meet Dr Edwards 01:38 Path Into Oceanography 04:22 Coastal Physics Explained 05:45 Tools and Measurements 07:30 El Nino and Carbon 11:10 Hurricanes and Heat 12:18 Gliders and Right Whales 16:38 Whale Alerts to Mariners 18:25 Radars and Rescue 20:16 Defining Local Waters 21:37 Rivers and Flood Pulses 24:38 Altamaha Flood at Grays Reef 27:54 Do Oceans Really Mix 30:39 Gulf Stream Basics 32:54 Myths and Wrap Up 33:38 Next Tropical Research 36:37 Thanks and Membership

  5. Jun 25

    Sea Turtles, Terrapins, and Lionfish: Dr. Kathryn Craven on Coastal Georgia Conservation

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos welcomes Dr. Kathryn Craven, a Georgia Southern University professor, Tybee Marine Science Center board trustee, and researcher known for work with loggerhead sea turtles and diamondback terrapins.   Craven shares her path from growing up near the Northeast coast to landing a sea turtle research job on Jekyll Island in 1991, including renewing flipper-tagging efforts. She discusses Georgia nesting-season monitoring, increasing loggerhead nest numbers linked to conservation measures such as shrimp fishery regulations and beach protections, and emerging challenges like rising coyote predation, plus mitigation using nest screening and predator control (including feral hogs).   Craven highlights research on nest microbiomes (fungi and bacteria) and findings that most unhatched eggs show fertility. She explains the TERPS head-start program incubating terrapin eggs and releasing hatchlings to offset female road mortality on Highway 80. The conversation also covers teaching evolution misconceptions through student drawing, earlier humpback whale work on bubble-net feeding, and new collaborative DNA-based lionfish research tied to lionfish rodeos and outreach.   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 the Podcast 00:42 Meet Dr Craven 01:42 Coastal Roots and Mentors 04:27 Finding Turtles in Georgia 06:46 Nesting Patrols and Tracks 08:22 Conservation Wins and Predators 10:49 Protecting Nests on Islands 13:06 Microbes Inside Turtle Nests 17:33 Terrapin Season and TERPS 19:04 Head Start Hatchlings Program 21:57 Terrapin History and Turtle Soup 23:27 Teaching Evolution Through Art 28:23 Whales and Bubble Net Feeding 32:20 Lionfish Invasion Research 37:38 Wrap Up and Support the Center 38:53 Membership and Programs Outro

  6. Jun 11

    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

  7. May 28

    Veteran Healing Through Fishing: Captain Jimmy & Knot Lucky Foundation

    Host Jessica Leigh Lebos is in the Ship Watch Loft of Tybee Marine Science Center with  Captain Jimmy Armel, former Army Ranger and founder of the Knot Lucky Foundation (K-N-O-T), which offers free fishing trips for active-duty service members and veterans (and immediate family) to support healing, connection, and purpose.   Armel shares his own struggles after leaving the military, including alcoholism, brain damage, and suicidal crises, and explains how fishing and later ibogaine treatment led him to shut down his for-profit charter to run the nonprofit full time. He describes transformations he’s witnessed, including posting $75,000 bail for a fellow Ranger, housing him, and building a customized mental health plan.   The episode also covers launching from Savannah Boathouse, ocean-based restoration, great white shark satellite tagging with Gray Fish Tag Research, fundraising via an annual barbecue, and ways to donate at knotlucky.org.   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 and Guest Intro 01:30 Knot Lucky Mission 02:18 Veteran Struggles and Suicide 03:29 Jimmy’s Combat Trauma 05:08 Deployments and Brain Injury 06:38 Fishing as Lifeline 07:34 Second Spiral and Breakthrough 09:59 Veteran Transformations 11:43 Ocean Purpose and Stewardship 12:46 Great White Tagging Begins 14:36 How Shark Tagging Works 15:53 Tag Data and Biggest Sharks 16:42 Adrenaline and Close Calls 18:17 Supporting Not Lucky 20:48 Fishing as Healing 22:02 Water Connection Mindset 24:18 Purpose and Harvest 25:45 How to Join Trips 26:45 Plant Medicine Advocacy 28:03 Ibogaine and Recovery 29:52 Ryan Davis Spotlight 31:24 Fishing Research Thanks 32:48 Tybee Science Center Outro

  8. May 14

    Wilderness Southeast Eco Tours & Fish Gotta Swim: Coastal Georgia Environmental Education with Lisa Goodman

    Welcome to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast! Host Jessica Leigh Lebos interviews Lisa Goodman, executive director of Wilderness Southeast, Georgia’s first environmental education nonprofit (founded 1973), about its mission to build awareness, appreciation, and stewardship through fun, guide-led outdoor eco-tours.   Goodman describes offerings including boat and kayak trips to Wassaw Island, marsh and creek exploration, and paddles at Ebenezer Creek, a tannin-stained blackwater ecosystem with ancient bald cypress and tupelo trees. She explains Wilderness Southeast’s roots, alongside the Caretta Research Project, as organizations that branched from the Savannah Science Museum, and highlights the grant-funded Fish Gotta Swim program (founded 2002) serving Title I students year-round, growing from 550 to 1,385 students. Challenges include school transportation, testing schedules, environmental threats, and technology. She previews the October Paddle Battle fundraiser and shares booking details.   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 00:51 Meet Lisa Goodman 02:16 Wassaw Island Tours 04:16 Savannah Science Museum Roots 06:52 Ebenezer Creek Kayaks 08:04 Tea Colored Water Explained 09:22 Fish Gotta Swim Program 12:02 Challenges and Changes 14:56 Lisa's Path to Leadership 18:47 Wild Stories in the Swamp 21:34 What's Next and Paddle Battle 23:04 Book a Tour and Connect 23:41 Closing Thanks and Outro 24:22 Science Center Membership Plug

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5
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6 Ratings

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Welcome to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast - an authentic Coastal experience. Join us in developing caring and responsible protection of Coastal Georgia’s natural resources. Together through education and conservation, we can make a difference.

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