Tim Jarvis at Macquarie Island by Nick Frayn

From the rugged mountain tops of Macquarie Island, down the torrent rivers of millennia to the deep dark depths of ocean shipwrecks, the Ocean Lovers Talks will take you into the most remarkable realms of our big blue planet over two days of free inspirational talks and panels from adventurers, scientists and experts on March 23 and 24 at Bondi Pavilion.

The Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival will host free inspirational Ocean Lovers Talks from scientists, ocean leaders, entrepreneurs and adventurers, sharing incredible insights with the public during the weekend festival.  

Polar adventurer and scientist Tim Jarvis shares his Jewels of the Southern Ocean expedition to save subantarctic island habitat, shipwreck archaeologist James Hunter talks about creating VR dives to the deep, Valerie Taylor AM and her team share their mission to save the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark and so much more.

Find out what whales are telling us about their health with experts Dr Vanessa Pirotta and Dr Olaf Meynecke in conversation with Sea Shepherd’s Captain Peter Hammarstedt. Hear why algae could actually be the new gold rush to save the sea and humanity, and what is next if there were no shark nets? If plastic pollution bothers you as much as it hurts the ocean then hear from Lottie Dalziel and her panel about solutions and check out the incredible lengths coral reefs are going to, to save themselves with a little help from scientists and conservationists.

 

Dr Vanessa Pirotta at Bondi beach by Daniel Kukec 

If seafood is on your menu then hear how to eat it with a clean conscience, and while you are at it get some instruction on “surviving the beach” from some Aussie experts. If marine protection seems important, we have a 101 guide on the 30 X 30 global goal from international guest Jason Peers, and not to be missed will be our 10 finalists in the student Fish Tank competition on stage. The kids have some exceptional ideas to share that make the future feel in safe hands. 

Indeed our young eco-pioneers are well represented with a talk from father and son team Nik and Harry Robinson from Good Citizen sunnies and the shark tank winning team of teenagers Myla and Liv telling their Cinnamon Cove swimwear story.

Did you know Sydney is leading a world best restoration project for our Harbour with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science who will give an insight at the talks, as well as offer the chance to explore the Seabirds and Seascapes restoration project through an interactive display on the Pavilion forecourt.

The inimitable Prof David Booth will discuss Sydney’s biggest issue – housing supply – by making fish pods for new habitat harbour homes and researcher Tristan Sales will take you on a short journey over hundreds of millions of years to understand how rivers created the living skin of our planet – Earth’s surface. 

All this and more for festivalgoers who can literally turn-up from the beach for some science in their swimmers at the High Tide Room at Bondi Pavilion.

Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival features a jam-packed program of live music, art exhibitions, workshops, films and market stalls for all ages.  Check the website for the full program of events and to register your attendance at the talks.

 

Ocean Lovers Talks
High Tide Room – Bondi Pavilion 

Saturday 23 March
11-11.30am: Panel discussion: Seafood: Eating with a conscience.

11.30 – 11.45: Jewels of the Southern Ocean – Tim Jarvis 

11.45-12.15pm: Panel discussion: Surviving the Beach 

12.15 -12.30pm: Going with the Flow, exploration from the rivers to the open ocean – Tristan Salles

12.30pm – 1.00pm: Panel discussion: Restoring Sydney Harbour with SIMS

1.00pm to 1.15pm: VR Shipwreck Dives – James Hunter

1.15 – 1.45pm: Panel discussion: Can our reefs save themselves?

1.45pm – 2.00pm: The 101 on the 30 by 30 – Jason Peers

2.15 – 2.45pm: Panel discussion: Solutions to ending plastic pollution

2.45 – 3.15pm: Panel discussion: Saving the Grey Nurse Shark with Valerie Taylor

3.30 – 4.00pm: Panel discussion: Saving our friends of the sea

Sunday 24 March
11.00am – 12pm: Panel discussion: Shark Nets: What’s Next? Hosted by ABC’s Natasha Mitchell

12.00 -12.15pm: Demystifying sustainable food – Alex Webb

12.15 – 12.45pm: Panel discussion: Algae Gold Hosted by ABC’s Natasha Mitchell

12.45 – 1.00: Artificial fish pods, no place like a new home – David Booth

1.00 – 1.30pm: – Panel discussion: High Seas, Deep Seas Hosted by ABC’s Natasha Mitchell

1.30 – 1.45pm: Schoolgirl Pioneers: the Cinnamon Cove Story. 

1.45 – 2.00pm: See Solutions with Good Citizens – Nik and Harry Robinson

2.00 – 2.30pm: Fish Tank Presentation – student ideas for the ocean competition winners

2.45 – 3.15pm: Panel discussion: Ancient wisdom, modern science

3.15 – 4.00pm: Panel discussion: What are whales telling us?

Visit the website for more details and the full Festival program as it’s unveiled. 

For information, images, contact: Carolyn Grant | 0407 898 727 | carolyn@oceanloversfestival.com

About Ocean Lovers Festival 

The Ocean Lovers Festival was born in Bondi in 2019. The festival is a place to ‘Sea Change‘ in a multi-channel showcase of entertainment to highlight ocean protection and innovative solutions, as well as celebrate the love of oceans through ideas, art, music, film, science and actions.

About Volvo

From the very outset Volvo Cars has always been about people who care about the world we live in. We have made it our mission to make life easier, better and safer for everyone. For a better future. We want to provide you with the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. Our alignment with the Ocean Lovers Festival is evident from our rich historical ties to our passion for people and the environment. 

In 1959 Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin introduced the three-point safety belts into the series production of PV 544 and we decided to waive our patent rights so everybody could benefit. To date, it’s estimated that over one million lives have been saved by the three-point safety belt. We articulated our first environmental declaration in 1972 at the UN’s first Environment Conference in Stockholm. Our CEO at the time, Pehr G. Gyllenhammar, acknowledged that our products had a negative environmental impact and stated that we were determined to do something about it. We introduced our three-way catalytic converter with the Lambda sensor in 1976, it was an environmental breakthrough and reduced harmful emissions by up to 90 per cent.

About Seabirds to Seascapes – Caring for our marine plants and animals

Seabirds to Seascapes, is an interactive installation at the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. It is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, and supported by project partners Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS); Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.