Inspiration often comes from the world around us. But what if your context is the Antarctic, one of the most remote and fragile ecosystems on Earth? In this episode of the BAJ Podcast, Sofie Boons speaks with Dr Katrin Linse, marine biologist with the British Antarctic Survey and jewellery maker whose work bridges science, art, and responsibility.
Katrin shares how her experiences studying ocean biodiversity informs her creative practice, and how jewellery can be a catalyst for awareness and change. Together, they explore the pressing threats to our oceans and the power of multidisciplinary approaches to tackle global challenges.
Listen in to a conversation that invites reflection on our relationship with nature and shows how creativity can inspire stewardship, even from the farthest reaches of the planet.
Katrin Linse, a marine biologist at the British Antarctic Survey, has 30 years’ research experience in the biodiversity, phylogeography and evolution of Antarctic and deep-sea marine invertebrates. In her research, she counts how many species live in certain habitats, like the deep-sea or black smoking hydrothermal vents, described and named newly discovered species, including limpets, snails and bivalves, as well as shrimps and other crustaceans, studied their DNA and who is related with whom. Katrin has been scuba diving in Antarctic waters to collected marine invertebrates but also works from research vessels, like RRS Sir David Attenborough, with state-of-the-art technology like remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the deep sea.
As a past-time and to take her mind of scientific analysis, she joined a silver jewellery making class, first at Cambridge’s White House Arts and now at Cambridge Makers in Linton, experimenting with different jewellery techniques. She combined her science expertise with metal casting techniques and created silver and gold replica of Antarctic, deep-sea and shallow water invertebrates which were integrated into jewellery designs. Her designs regularly start conversations between strangers, starting on the unusual designs and leading to chats on risks to biodiversity and climate change.
Learn more about our host Dr. Sofie Boons here, and our guest Katrin Linse here.
Listen on Spotify here, and Apple Podcasts here.
Photo credit: martinhartley/Ocean Census
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