You Don’t Have to Be an Astronaut to Explore Alien Worlds | Lloyd Trueblood | TEDxLaSierraUniversity

As a child, he dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Instead, he became a marine biologist - discovering that one of our greatest frontiers isn’t in outer space, but found beneath the surface of our oceans. Dr. Lloyd Trueblood takes viewers from the sunlit surface to the deep sea, introducing bizarre and beautiful creatures that seem almost alien. Along the way, he explores how scientists study the deep ocean and why one remarkable group of animals - salps - plays an important role in Earth’s carbon cycle. Discover how changing ocean temperature and oxygen affect these animals, what that means for our changing climate, and why our oceans remain one of the last great frontiers of exploration. Whether you’re interested in marine biology, ocean exploration, climate science, or simply have a curious mind, this talk is an invitation to see our blue planet through new eyes. The next great adventure may not require a rocket ship - it may begin just beneath the surface. Lloyd Trueblood, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, where he leads research and teaching in marine invertebrate physiology. Dr. Trueblood studies how ocean organisms survive and thrive under changing and extreme environmental conditions - particularly focusing on oxygen and carbon dioxide stress in cephalopods like octopus and pelagic tunicates called salps.

His work sheds light on how key marine species respond to global change, including ocean warming and acidification. His research has earned support from the National Science Foundation and has taken him and his students on multiple oceanographic expeditions, exploring the biological processes that influence the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle.

Trueblood integrates undergraduate students directly into hands-on research experiences - preparing the next generation of scientists to confront pressing environmental challenges. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx