Dr. Brianna Le Busque is trying to make Australia a more Ocean Literate Society. Many Australians are not connected to the ocean which means they are not getting the benefits of blue spaces or caring for our oceans.
Brianna Le Busque explores peoples’ relationship with the ocean and marine species, including how biophobia (dislike/fear of the natural world) and biophilia (positive connections to the natural world) impact how people engage with the ocean and ocean conservation. Some projects she has worked on recently include understanding children’s fear of sharks, evaluating benefits of ocean retreat experiences, and exploring eco-anxiety caused by the Harmful Algal Bloom event in South Australia. She brings a psychological lens to marine science, and likes to say she studies the most complicated species- people!