Dr. Alan Jamieson is a Scottish marine biologist, engineer, author, and explorer known for studying life in the furthest depths of the oceans. Through the extensive use of landers—a combination of ship-mounted echo sounders and unmanned camera systems—Alan’s research focuses on discovering new species, establishing the true depth ranges of marine animals, and highlighting anthropogenic impacts at full ocean depths. He was the Chief Scientist at Victor Vescovo’s Five Deeps Expedition, a project aimed at mapping and exploring the deepest points of the world’s five oceans. Today, Alan serves as CEO of Armatus Oceanic, an organization he co-founded in 2019 for R&D in marine tech, expeditions, and science dissemination. Through Armatus, Alan co-hosts the Deep-Sea Podcast with Dr. Thomas Linley. In addition to his work as CEO at Armatus, Alan currently serves as a professor at the University of Australia and is the Founding Director of the Deep-Sea Research Centre.

Alan joins me today to discuss how serendipity shaped his life’s path toward marine biology and ocean exploration. He explains how he pioneered the design and construction of deep-sea robots and shares the discoveries he has made along the way. He highlights the difference between adventurism, exploration, and science. He also discusses why society needs to democratize access to scientific experience and underscores what it will take to create a meaningful relationship between the general public and the deep sea.

“EVERYTHING IN THE DEEP SEA—AND MOST OF THE PLANET IS DEEP SEA—IS DRIVEN BY WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE SURFACE: PHOTOSYNTHESIS, WARMING, CO2 ABSORPTION. EVERYTHING HAS  CONTROL ON WHAT HAPPENS BELOW IT.”

- ALAN JAMIESON

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●      The young Alan Jamieson: his interests and life as a student

●      What made him study industrial design at university and how it continues to serve him in his career as a marine biologist

●      Alan’s work experience after college and his journey to becoming a mechanical technician for the Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen

●      Working on his thesis, Autonomous lander technology for biological research at mid-water, abyssal, and hadal depths

●      What encouraged Alan to go deep into marine science and what persuaded him to pursue a Ph.D. in Zoology

●      The hadal zone, where it is, and how deep its depths are

●      Why it’s essential to understand and study the hadal zone

●      How the ocean’s trenches are formed

●      The psychological problem of getting people engaged with the deep-sea

●      How culture and metaphors perpetuate biases about deep-sea exploration

●      Alan’s role in Victor Vescovo’s Five Deeps Expedition

●      Seeing anthropogenic litter at the bottom of the ocean

●      The strangest and most amazing things Alan has seen in the deepest depths of the ocean

●      The difference between adventurism, exploration, and science

●      Why experiencing the deep sea in person matters

●      Science tourism and the value of democratizing science exploration

Our Favorite Quotes:

●      “You say you love the top 50 meters of the ocean because that’s where you scuba dive and fish, but think the deep sea is none of your concern. It actually should be—most of your planet is deep sea.” - Alan Jamieson

●      “If society’s going to develop a relationship with the deep sea on an almost unimaginable scale, it shouldn’t be an elitist endeavor where you can only experience it as a scientist.” - Alan Jamieson

Related Content:

●      Mountain Climbing, Deep Ocean Diving & The Purpose of Life with Victor Vescovo

●      The Ocean’s Deep Regions with Tim MacDonald

Connect with Alan Jamieson:

●      Armatus Oceanic

●      Book: The Hadal Zone: Life in the Deepest Oceans

●      The Deep-Sea Podcast

●      Armatus Oceanic on LinkedIn

●      The Deep-Sea Podcast on Twitter

●      Alan Jamieson on Twitter

●      Email: alan.j.jamieson@uwa.edu.au

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

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