OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW HAS YOUR LOVE FOR SHARKS DEVELOPED? HAS THIS BEEN AN INNATE FASCINATION THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE?

JODIE RUMMER: “I grew up surrounded by cornfields in Illinois in the middle of the U.S. – not exactly the place from which you’d expect a future marine biologist to emerge! But my fascination with water and marine life started early. As a child, I spent hours in our backyard swimming pool, learning to snorkel before I had ever seen the ocean in person. I was captivated by the idea of breathing underwater in a world so distant, yet so full of life. What truly sparked my inspiration, though, were nature documentaries and National Geographic. I was mesmerised by footage of scientists exploring coral reefs, and by stories of marine animals with incredible adaptations. I became obsessed with the idea that there was so much more beneath the surface – things we were just beginning to understand. I knew then that I wanted to be one of those scientists, exploring, discovering, and protecting our oceans.

That dream became a reality through my academic journey, which took me from the United States to Canada, Hong Kong, and ultimately to Australia, where I now have the Great Barrier Reef quite literally at my doorstep. My research has spanned diverse marine environments – from the salmon- filled streams and rivers of the West Coast of Canada to the equatorial waters of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, from deep-sea physiology to shallow reef ecology. Whether studying how fish adapt to climate change stressors, tracking newborn shark movements across nurseries in French Polynesia, or building a captive breeding program for epaulette sharks in my lab, my love for the ocean has only deepened with every experience. Today, as a professor of marine biology, I have the privilege of mentoring the next generation of marine scientists and continuing to explore and protect the ecosystems that first inspired me. My journey from cornfields to coral reefs is proof that no matter where you start, curiosity, passion, and perseverance can lead you to incredible places.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW DID YOU GET INTO OCEAN SCIENCE? 

JODIE RUMMER: “It was a combination of curiosity, opportunity, and an undeniable pull toward understanding marine life. But at the heart of it, I’ve always been obsessed with athletic performance and elite athletes – what makes them faster, stronger, and more resilient. Physiology became the perfect foundation for bringing that passion together with my love for the ocean. Fish, in many ways, are nature’s greatest athletes, evolving 400 million years of incredible physiological adaptations to survive in extreme environments, whether it’s deep-sea pressures, low-oxygen waters, or rising ocean temperatures. My journey started with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in marine biology in Florida, where I worked on fish physiology and conservation issues. From there, I pursued a PhD in Canada, focusing on how fish transport oxygen and maintain performance under stress – questions that are vital for understanding climate change impacts. That research took me into the world of high-performance animal physiology, looking at how fish push their limits much like human athletes. After a postdoctoral fellowship in Hong Kong, I landed in Australia, where my research continues to evolve at James Cook University. Whether studying how epaulette sharks ‘hold their breath’ for hours at a time or how climate change is pushing fish to their physiological limits, I’m still driven by the same fascination: how animals perform at their peak in challenging environments. The ocean has always been my greatest teacher, and I never tire of learning from it.”  

OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED BEING A WOMAN IN YOUR FIELD?

JODIE RUMMER: “Like many women in science, I’ve faced challenges ranging from implicit bias to outright exclusion from opportunities. Early on, I had to fight to be taken seriously, especially in male-dominated spaces like fieldwork and academia. But beyond that, the very structure of an academic career is built in a way that makes it incredibly difficult for women who also want to have a family. By the time you finish your degrees, complete a postdoc, and ‘pay your dues’ in a junior faculty position while working relentlessly to increase your h-index, citations, publication and grant record, you’re well into your 30s – if not later – before you achieve any kind of job security. And that’s only if everything goes perfectly. When I finally reached the milestone of tenure, I had financial security, but what about the rest of my life? My first marriage had ended, and as I was settling into a new and happy relationship – the one that will soon become my second marriage – I realised that my most fertile years were already behind me.

Let’s talk about the numbers. The average age of first-time mothers continues to rise globally, but fertility declines significantly after 35, and by 40, women have less than a 5% chance per cycle of conceiving naturally. The DNA quality in eggs declines, miscarriage rates increase, and by the time a woman is in her late 30s to early 40s, pregnancy is often considered high-risk. But no one told me I should freeze my eggs in my 20s while I was jetting around the world doing research. By the time I was finally happy in my new relationship, we had to look into fertility treatment. And let me tell you, IVF is brutal. I went through three major rounds, suffered at least three miscarriages of twins, and endured all the hormonal stress, injections, and emotional ups and downs. Physically, my body took a toll, too. I thrive on exercise, but I was told I couldn’t elevate my heart rate above 120 bpm for months during each cycle. For someone who relies on movement, outdoor adventure, and endorphins to function, that was excruciating. And it wasn’t just me – my partner went through it all as well, supporting me through the highs and lows. Eventually, we made the heartbreaking decision to stop trying. My doctor told me, “You should have frozen your eggs when you were in your 20s.” But how was I supposed to know that? That’s not a conversation we have with young women in science. And maybe we should. Maybe we need to be telling female students who want to follow a career like mine that they need to consider their future beyond their research, their h-index, their tenure clock. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this: academia wasn’t built with women in mind, and it certainly wasn’t built for women who want to have both a scientific career and a family. It’s something we need to talk about more, and it’s one of the reasons I advocate so strongly for equity in science – not just in opportunity, but in awareness and in the ability to make informed choices about our futures.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN YOUR FIELD TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND JUST?

JODIE RUMMER: “We need systemic change. It’s not just about addressing gender bias in hiring, funding, and leadership opportunities – it’s about dismantling the structures that have historically pushed women out of STEM, especially in academia. The way our careers are structured makes it nearly impossible to balance research with caregiving responsibilities. Tenure clocks and grant deadlines don’t pause for maternity leave, fertility struggles, or the increasing demands of caring for aging parents. If we want true accessibility, we need policies that support – not penalise – women who choose both career and family, in whatever form that takes. And let’s be honest: the ‘old boys’ club’ is still very much alive. There’s a network of gatekeeping that exists in academia and fieldwork, where connections, opportunities, and even funding can be dictated by who you know – and for a long time, those decision-makers were men supporting other men. While we’ve seen progress, women still must work twice as hard to be seen as equally competent. We need to change that culture so that women aren’t constantly fighting to prove they belong. Strong mentorship networks, visible role models, and deliberate inclusion in leadership positions are all part of the solution. But it’s not just about adding more women to the table – it’s about changing the table itself, reshaping academia and science into a space where women, and all underrepresented groups, can thrive without having to sacrifice other aspects of their lives. We’ve made progress, but we have a long way to go.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG ASPIRING FEMALE MARINE BIOLOGISTS? 

JODIE RUMMER: “Be relentless in your curiosity. If you love something, pursue it… no matter how unconventional or challenging the path may seem. Seek out mentors, surround yourself with people who lift you up, and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Science needs fresh perspectives, and your voice matters. People will tell you that “there are no jobs in marine biology” or that it’s a waste of time – don’t believe them. There are countless ways to build a meaningful career in marine science, from research and conservation to policy, education, and science communication. The world desperately needs smart, passionate, driven people to protect our oceans and advance our understanding of marine life. Also, remember that setbacks are part of the journey – learn from them, adapt, and keep moving forward. If the ocean teaches us anything, it’s resilience.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT RESEARCH. 

JODIE RUMMER: “Right now, my team is tackling some of the most pressing climate change questions through two major research programmes, offering critical insights into how marine life responds to environmental stressors. Physioshark, based (primarily) in French Polynesia, has been running annually since 2013 and focuses on how newborn sharks cope with climate-driven changes like warming, acidification, and low oxygen. A key new direction is Apex Mothers, where we use birth alert tags and telemetry to track pregnant females, linking maternal health with neonatal survival. This allows us to connect maternal condition with offspring resilience, helping predict long-term climate impacts on shark populations. We are also improving neonatal shark monitoring in their first weeks of life – a critical survival period – by combining physiological assessments with behavioural tracking to understand how young sharks navigate environmental challenges.

Meanwhile, our captive breeding colony of epaulette sharks at James Cook University provides a rare opportunity to study a species that naturally tolerates extreme environmental fluctuations, making it an ideal bioindicator for climate change. Since epaulette sharks are endemic to the Great Barrier Reef, we can compare geographically and genetically distinct populations to investigate local adaptation. By linking physiology with gene expression, we explore whether certain populations have evolved traits to cope with different environmental conditions. Our captive breeding programme allows us to study the full life cycle – from reproducing adults to developing embryos, neonates, and juveniles – under controlled conditions, enabling direct insights into climate stressor impacts across life stages. These projects go beyond sharks – they provide critical insights into how marine ecosystems will function under future climate conditions. As sharks play a key role in ocean food webs, understanding their physiological limits helps predict ecological changes, inform conservation strategies, and shape policy. By integrating field tracking, behavioural monitoring, physiology, and molecular tools, we ensure real-world impact for conservation and management.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: RUN US THROUGH THE MOST AMAZING OCEAN MOMENT YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED. 

JODIE RUMMER: “Diving at night in Fakarava, French Polynesia, during the full moon was hands down the most breathtaking experience of my life. This wasn’t just any dive – it was the legendary ‘Wall of Sharks’, where hundreds of grey reef sharks form an inverted trophic pyramid, defying the usual rules of the food chain. Watching them hunt cooperatively in a perfectly synchronised frenzy was like witnessing a natural phenomenon that few get to see firsthand. The sheer power, precision, and scale of it was humbling, and it reinforced just how much we still have to learn about shark performance and behaviour and the critical role these predators play in maintaining ocean ecosystems. Best. Dive. Ever.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT AT WORK?

JODIE RUMMER: “It’s hard to pick just one! My research has reached billions through media coverage, documentaries, and advocacy work, but what means the most to me is the impact on my students. Seeing them grow as scientists, challenge ideas, and make discoveries of their own – that makes me extremely proud. Scientifically, probably my biggest discovery so far has been that some fish have an extraordinary ability to supercharge their oxygen delivery during high-intensity exercise, surpassing even elite human athletes. Thanks to a unique trait in their haemoglobin, the protein in blood (including our blood) that transports oxygen, fishes can be up to 50 times more efficient than humans at offloading oxygen to their tissues under stress. This remarkable adaptation is a major reason why fish have been such an evolutionary success for over 400 million years. Understanding this system has reshaped how we view fish performance and endurance, with critical implications for predicting how species will fare as our oceans warm.

Lately, I’ve been increasingly drawn to the maternal side of shark conservation – tracking and tagging pregnant reef sharks through the Apex Mothers initiative within Physioshark to understand how their movements and health impact their pups. In many ways, this chapter of my career has become a study of pregnancy, birth, and early life – not in humans, but in sharks. While I wasn’t able to have my own children, I’ve found deep meaning in monitoring newborn reef sharks for over a decade and watching epaulette embryos develop and hatch in our lab. These projects are not just fascinating science; their outcomes are critical for conservation policies and climate action.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHY IS THE WOMEN IN OCEAN SCIENCE COMMUNITY SO CLOSE TO YOUR HEART?

JODIE RUMMER: “Being part of Women in Ocean Science (WiOS) resonates deeply with me because it aligns with my commitment to fostering gender equity in marine science. WiOS’s mission to empower women in ocean-related careers by addressing gendered challenges and providing essential support is crucial for creating an inclusive and effective scientific community. By elevating female voices and breaking down barriers, WiOS not only advocates for women but also enhances the collective effort to protect our marine environments. Collaborating with a global network of like-minded women through WiOS inspires me and reinforces the importance of diversity in driving meaningful change for our oceans. If you can see it, you can be it.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

JODIE RUMMER: “The next chapter of my career is about expanding impact – both in research and leadership. As president of the Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS), which has been championing coral reef science and conservation for over 100 years, I’m honoured to help guide the next century of reef protection and research. My work with UNESCO and other global organisations will continue to advocate for ocean protection at the highest levels. But I also want to see stronger science-driven decision-making, which means increasing my presence in parliamentary discussions and high-level policy-making to ensure that conservation policies are based on the best available science. On the research front, we’re expanding our studies on newborn blacktip reef sharks beyond French Polynesia, investigating how populations in different regions respond to climate change, fishing pressure, and other human-driven stressors. Meanwhile, at JCU, our captive epaulette shark breeding colony remains a powerhouse for research, allowing us to study every life stage under controlled conditions. But just as important as the science itself is mentoring the next generation – fostering an environment where my students can ask bold questions, innovate, and push the boundaries of what we know.

More leadership, more global collaborations, more influence in policy, more visibility of our work – because the ocean’s future is at stake, and I’m committed to being part of the solution.”

Learn more about Women in Ocean Science here or in our exclusive Women in Ocean Science column which was launched to celebrate International Women’s Day.