Reef Chats
Reef Chat is a laid-back, creative monthly conversation series that dives into the mysteries and realities of the deep sea, blending the insights of both art and science. Each session pairs one artist with a subject-matter expert to spark an informal, thought-provoking exchange centered on a specific theme.
A collaboration with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Reef Chat invites participants to stick around and join the conversation as long as they’d like. We aim to keep things fun, engaging, and open to all kinds of curiosity!
Our topics will range from deep-sea fundamentals to policy discussions, including pressing issues like deep-sea mining. The format is intentionally conversational and collaborative, not a panel, not a workshop. We want to create a space where everyone feels welcome to ask questions, share their ideas, or simply listen and be inspired.
We also invite you to check out the SOA’s Deep-Sea Academy.
All about the Deep-Sea
Paola Santiago Padua
“Saving the world, one coral at a time”, her team would joyfully say before diving into the lukewarm waters. Growing up on an island surrounded by coral reefs, Paola has been privileged to be part of the few research-based eCorts toward their restoration in Puerto Rico. After being a volunteer diver for over four years, this was the first time she was coming back as part of the response team after Hurricane Fiona in 2022. She has been involved in their coral nurseries’ development and advocacy events, which have empowered her to lead the first (free) ocean internship for students on the island. Admiring the resilience of our reefs upon a warming ocean has taught her how science, conservation, and education are a continuum that together pave the way toward ocean health. As a biology undergraduate and co-president of the coral restoration student chapter, she fostered great value in citizen science initiatives through beach clean-up events and outreach. Eager to explore beyond the reefs, Paola has embarked on three deep-sea expeditions so far. Now as a PhD student studying deep sea and Antarctic methane seeps food webs, Paola aims to bring Caribbean representation into the last frontiers on Earth: diving below sea ice in Antarctica. She looks forward to translating these skills into the Caribbean deep-sea exploration and grow into an ocean leader to pioneer its research eCorts to connect her community and broader Latin America with all of their ocean resources.
Meghan Jones
Meghan Jones has a BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts. She spent 12 years designing knitting patterns for magazines like Vogue Knitting before returning to her fine art roots in 2021. A chance connection with Deep Sea Scientists who shared photos from the deepest of ocean habitats captured her imagination in 2023 and rekindled a childhood love of all things science. Now Meghan uses her modern impressionism painting style, and research based art to raise awareness, and promote love for the deep ocean.
About Deep-Sea Mining
Gayathra Bandara
Gayathra Bandara is a deep-sea biologist and ichthyologist passionate about exploring the biodiversity of our ocean’s most remote and fragile ecosystems. His research focuses on understanding human impacts on the deep sea, including the threats posed by deep-sea mining. As a sea-going marine biologist, Gayathra has spent over 100 days at sea, sailing across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, and even into the icy waters of the Arctic. Beyond research, he’s an active science communicator and ocean advocate, working to raise awareness and protect life in the deep. In his free time, he loves solo travel and has explored more than 30 countries around the world.
Delphine Mestdagh
“Creatures that live in the deep sea are often called monsters. Since I love animals in general, I mean all animals really, it was very hard for me to hear. This initially inspired me to start painting the wonderful creatures of the deep. Granted, most animals living in the deep sea may not win beauty contests. They are not considered the fairest of them all. Yet, I wanted to defend them against this strong prejudice. I have always been prone to pity when it comes to animals, they so easily get the wrong image because they are different. When in fact they are awesome, resilient, sometimes even fairytale-like (siphonophores!), alien like (carnivorous sponge?!) Seriously, you can’t make up creatures like this. And honestly, I think they all possess a special beauty. Some because of the fairy-like light they emit, and others have beautiful colours; but above all, I have the greatest admiration for their way of life in those dark depths. With my paintings, I want to showcase these wonderful creatures in a new light. Really portray them at their best. I want to break their image. So that perhaps they will no longer be called monsters and get the admiration they deserve.”
Exploring the Deep-Sea
Kyle Foster
Kyle Foster is an M.Phil. candidate in Environmental Biology at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, where his thesis has a particular focus on Deep-Sea Biology. His work aims to assess the current knowledge of Barbados’ deep-sea biodiversity – his home – in order to identify existing gaps and begin to chart a path forward in the island’s deep-sea research. He has been able to share his research at conferences such as the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium in Hong Kong, and the Research Frontiers Symposium hosted by Barbados’ Ministry of Environment and National Beautification. The second part of his thesis revolves around the importance of the fishing industry’s Local Ecological Knowledge in deep-sea science, as scientific research often proves difficult for Small Island Developing States such as Barbados.
He has also combined his love for the environment with his love for writing, and has had pieces featured with Climate Tracker, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and local newspapers such as Barbados Today.
Lea Kannar-Lichtenberger
Lea Kannar-Lichtenberger is an environmental artist exploring human impact on islands and isolated environments. Through immersive residencies as artist/traveller/observer, she looks beyond travel guide rhetoric to create artworks examining the Anthropocene's impact on utopian destinations.
With a Master of Fine Art (2016) and Master of Contemporary Art (2014) from Sydney College of the Arts - University of Sydney, Lea shares her research through exhibitions in Australia and internationally. Her work appears in peer-reviewed journals and a book, and she has delivered over 20 conference papers globally. in 2025 Lea was invited to become a member of the Royal Society of NSW, having already given an open lecture there titled "Antarctica: This Ain't No Mirage - the value of art in disseminating scientific information."
Her 2017 Antarctica research featured in seven solo exhibitions across Austarlia. In 2023 her focus shifted to our polar regions with expeditions to Antarctica and Svalbard. Her art practice and writing has expanded with invitations to give two papers at SCAR (scientific Community on Antarctic Research). Her future is linked to the northern hemisphere with future expeditions returning her to Svalbard in 2025 (with Ocean Geographic under the Explorers Club Flag) & 2026 (Artica lad based research residency).
Bioluminescence
Emma Román is a PhD student in Dr. Alison Gould’s lab at Temple University, where she studies how bioluminescent bacteria form and persist inside coral-reef fish. She explores where fish find their “glow-in-the-dark” partners and how these microbial communities take shape over time. When she’s not in the lab or underwater, Emma enjoys hiking, caring for her leopard gecko, and learning to paint.
Chris Bellamy is the founder of Bio Crafted, an award-winning biodesign studio exploring how living materials can reshape everyday life. After 15 years designing for global brands, Chris realised his “sustainable” innovations - like electric cars powered by coal or recyclable shoes that never get recycled - weren’t enough to meet climate goals. He now works with living systems, blending the arts, sciences and traditional knowledge to create bold, interspecies collaborations and awe-inspiring artefacts.