Ever wondered…
- Why do algal blooms harm fisheries?
- How can we get a farmer in Iowa to care about a shellfish farmer in the Gulf of Mexico?
- What it takes to design aquaponics for SPACE?
InspectorPlanet—aka Dr. Tracy Fanara—is here to answer all of these questions and more!
Besides her very cool role at NOAA where she dives into earth systems and investigates what's needed to protect human lives and livelihoods from environmental threats, Dr. Tracy has appeared on everything from the Science Channel's Mythbusters to Nat Geo's SharkFest.
Hear all about this real life superhero on Season 4, Episode 6 of The Conch podcast!
Episode Transcript
Episode Guide:
- :00 Intro
- 01:11 Dr. Tracy Fanara combined sustainability and innovation to invent her alter ego, Inspector Planet, and to give young girls a role model in STEM.
- 02:12 At the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tracy works with academia, industry, other government agencies, and scientists to protect lives and livelihoods.
- 03:11 A primer on coastal and ocean modeling and why it's important.
- 07:44 There are no local problems.
- 10:01 Tracy, once called the "Face of Red Tide," earned that moniker because of her holistic approach to understanding it and communicating important information to people affected by it.
- 12:39 What is the difference between toxic red tide algae and popular sea vegetables, like kelp and seaweeds, that we are starting to see on store shelves?
- 15:58 Recognizing that everything we do affects everyone else, how do we get a farmer in Iowa to care about a shellfish farmer in the Gulf of Mexico?
- 19:48 Tracy was THIS close to going to space on the SpaceX journey to the moon. What happened?
- 20:20 Why space, when Earth? The answer might surprise you.
- 25:13 If you're not ok with failing, you're not ok with winning. Why failure excites Tracy.
- 29:29 Change is coming—more women are advancing into careers in STEM.
- 32:59 Tracy is a climate optimist and everyone can play a role in addressing the climate crisis.
- 36:06 Shoutouts!
Resources:
- Read more about Dr. Tracy and why everything is connected at Inspector Planet.
- Recommend this episode to one person who is curious about the incredible potential of aquaponics in space!
