BlueMissionAA recently recorded a special podcast episode, “Waves of Change: Art, Science, and Community for the Ocean,” during the unveiling of the Into the Reef mural by artist Neto Vettorello at the Cork Harbour Festival.

The mural, a collaboration between BlueMissionAA, University College Cork (UCC), TIDAL ArTS, and the Cork Harbour Festival, serves as a call to action for ocean protection, blending creativity and community engagement to spotlight the urgency of marine conservation.

The podcast captured a roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Baiba Prūse (UCC), bringing together diverse voices, from artists and researchers to educators and citizens, to explore how art and science can inspire new perspectives and mobilize communities for the ocean.

Featured participants included:

• Neto Vettorello – Italian-Brazilian artist behind Into the Reef

• Dr. Jesse Peterson – Researcher at UCC’s Radical Humanities Laboratory, studying biodiversity loss and oceanic degradation

• Dr. Soli Levi – PhD researcher on marine governance and emotion in Ireland

• Dr. David Whyte – UCC Senior Postdoctoral Researcher on coastal community engagement

• Ed Sheldon – Marine citizen science volunteer conducting seagrass surveys in Kerry

• John Armstrong – Ecologist with Nature Network Ireland

As part of its role in supporting the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, BlueMissionAA connects local actions with European ambitions for healthier seas. By combining art, science, and storytelling, the project creates accessible ways for communities to engage with ocean issues.

The podcast episode is now available on BlueMissionAA’s YouTube channel.