Our Blue Backyard

April 2025

I recently had the chance to speak with Tessa Hill, UC Davis Oceanographer who wrote At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans.

Her book explores the ocean’s changes as a result of global warming. Drawing from science, Indigenous knowledge, and community perspectives, the book moves from tidepools to coral reefs to deep sea caves. Professor Hill writes about the huge scope of environmental challenges and our responses to them.

Her book includes issues like ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and microplastic pollution, which is a incredible threat to ocean life. But rather than feeling overwhelming, it emphasizes resilience and innovation, showing how so many people worldwide are working to protect marine ecosystems. One of the things I appreciate most is Professor Hill’s inclusion of oyster shell farming, and seagrass farming, as natural ways to protect shorelines as well as capture carbon in the ocean — blue carbon. It was great to be able to share Sarah Ugalde’s, the Australian researcher, new report on oyster farming with Professor Hill when I met with her.

I highly recommend At Every Depth.