Rhea Storlund is a comparative physiologist and science communication educator at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her research explores how the cardiovascular system adapts to extreme environments, and why marine mammals can do things that humans cannot.

To understand the remarkable breath-hold diving abilities of marine mammals, she studies their hearts. Working closely with Steller sea lions and northern fur seals at the Vancouver Aquarium, Rhea uses tools common in human medicine—such as ultrasound, ECG and heart rate variability monitoring—to investigate how diving animals manage oxygen, circulation, and stress underwater.

Her research has also taken her beyond the aquarium. In Croatia, she interviewed spearfishers to better understand the sensations humans experience during breath-hold diving, connecting animal physiology with human experience in extreme environments.

Alongside her research, Rhea teaches ocean science communication, focusing on how scientific knowledge moves into the real world. In her course Communicating Ocean Science: Stakeholder Engagement and Impact, students learn how to tailor key messages for different audiences in the sustainable blue economy, including managers, government, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and the public. Rhea sees herself as a facilitator of learning, helping students and research trainees develop their own voice, problem-solving skills, and research style.

Together, this work reflects Rhea’s interest in both understanding how animals function in extreme environments and helping others communicate science clearly and effectively.