Big Blue Ideas – Turn Up. Speak Out. Dive In.
Published
Join Craig Reucassel and a host of panellists as they dive deep into the impact of plastics on our oceans.
On August 14, the Australian National Maritime Museum is proud to present its second talk in its Big Blue Ideas series, Plastic – The Final Straw? Join TV Host and comedian Craig Reucassel, oceanographer and startup co-founder Dr Julia Reisser, youth ocean and climate champion Kal Glanznig and BehaviourWorks Senior Researcher Jennifer Macklin for an honest and open discussion into the effects of plastic on our oceans, environment and our bodies.
Moderated by the Museum’s Senior Curator, Ocean Futures - Emily Jateff, this talk is a key feature in the Museum’s Science Week programming, and designed to inspire, inform and educate people of all ages.
Big Blue Ideas is a new series from the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Minderoo Foundation about the future of our ocean. Forget doom and gloom—these are not your typical climate conversations. From AI and conservation tech to cultural storytelling and deep-sea discovery, these talks put you in a room with innovators, scientists, artists, and disruptors.
This event begins at 6:30pm on August 14 and will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum, with tickets starting from just $25. Following the talk, the conversation continues at our Sea Citizens After Party, a boardwalk gathering with drinks, hands-on activities, and the chance to connect directly with speakers and fellow ocean advocates.
For more information about Big Blue Ideas or to book tickets, please visit: www.sea.museum/big-blue-ideas
For more information about the event’s speakers, please see bios following.
Craig Reucassel is an Australian writer and comedian who is best known for his work with The Chaser and for going through your bins on The War on Waste.
He and some friends started the satirical newspaper The Chaser which went on to TV shows like CNNNN and The Chaser's War on Everything.
Craig has hosted three series of the award winning The War on Waste documentary. He has also hosted climate change documentaries Fight for Planet A and Big Weather. In 2020 he directed the movie Big Deal, which looked into the issue of money in politics in Australia.
He is currently the host of the ABC 702 Breakfast show in Sydney.
Dr Julia Reisser is an oceanographer and plastic pollution expert with a strong track record in scientific leadership and entrepreneurship.
She has a PhD in plastic waste and has established several globally-renowned ventures including The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch not-for-profit developing technology to remove plastic from the seas.
Today, Julia is the co-founder and co-CEO of Uluu, an Australian startup that has developed an innovative plastic substitute made from seaweed.
Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions. His advocacy successes have made him a sought-after speaker, including appearances at TEDx and the United Nations Climate Change COPs.
Creator of the documentary RISING UP, Kal led a $100,000, 100kW solar panel project while in high school, inspiring over 20 schools to follow suit. He co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla in 2019, spearheading a movement that helped secure a legislative ban on single-use plastics, and co-created the Blue Minds program to empower young Australians to tackle eco-anxiety and become ocean leaders.
Kal was named Sutherland Shire Young Australian of the Year 2020 and Environmental Citizen of the Year 2023. An accomplished aquatic athlete, Kal represented Australia at the Youth World Water Polo Championships and was recently elected as the youngest Independent Councillor in the Sutherland Shire.
Jennifer Macklin (Downes) is a Senior Researcher at BehaviourWorks Australia and Behaviour Lead of Monash Sustainable Development Institute's Circular Economy Labs.
She has over 15 years’ experience in applied behavioural science and social research to develop effective policies and programs for household, organisational and system-wide change towards more circular futures.
Jennifer has a particular passion for bringing systems perspectives into behavioural research, along with deep expertise in applying behavioural science to consumption, waste prevention and resource recovery behaviours.
She is currently leading research on the appropriate disposal of household waste, increasing the capture of beverage containers in public spaces, and reducing residential illegal dumping, as well as increasing purchase of durable clothing and repair of electronics.
Emily Jateff is the Senior Curator, Ocean Futures at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Her remit is partnerships, collections and content for ocean sciences, marine technologies, climate change and sustainability.
Emily leads the ten-year program in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.
