A Plankton Ambassador: How Plankton Shaped Life on Earth

Plankton made life on Earth possible. So why do we know so little about them? In this episode of Oceanography, Clark speaks with Vincent Doumeizel, Senior Adviser on the Oceans to the United Nations Global Compact and author of The Power of Plankton. Together, they dive into the extraordinary world of organisms drifting through our oceans, from their role in producing oxygen and shaping evolution to their influence on the carbon cycle, marine food webs, and ocean health.

They also explore how new tools like environmental DNA, satellites, and AI are transforming plankton research, why plankton remain largely absent from environmental policy, and how understanding this mostly invisible ecosystem could reveal new ways to protect our oceans and our planet.

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Episode Guests: Vincent Doumeizel

Find the book, The Power of Plankton

Read the Plankton Manifesto

Connect with Vincent Doumeizel on LinkedIn or follow on social media @theseaweedrevolution

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Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

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Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art by Jomiro Eming