Last Thursday, I had the chance to attend a talk with Dr. Steve Mentz about Blue Humanities, and it really made me think differently about water and how we experience it. What stood out to me the most was how personal and global this field is at the same time. Dr. Mentz talked about swimming in La Jolla Cove, and how each body of water has its own local culture like rules, rhythms, and even wildlife interactions. I found that fascinating because I had never thought about water as something so socially and culturally alive. Even if someone can’t swim or lives far from the ocean, he emphasized that water is still part of our daily lives. It flows in our bodies, it rains, it’s in clouds. Water connects us in ways I hadn’t realized before.

Another part that struck me was the connection between movement and thinking. Dr. Mentz described how swimming, or even walking and running, helps him work on writing, rhythm, and language. The idea that bodily movement can shape how you think or write was new to me. It made me think about my own study habits and how maybe I could find ways to learn that go beyond sitting at a desk.

I was also interested in the stories about how humans shape oceans and vice versa. From historical shipwrecks to oyster farming, the ocean isn’t just a backdrop but it’s an active participant in history and culture. He even connected these ideas to modern issues, like offshore wind and deep-sea life, showing that the way we interact with water has ethical, political, and ecological dimensions.

Finally, I loved how the discussion included clouds, ice, and rain as part of the Blue Humanities. Water isn’t just liquid; it’s solid, gaseous, and everywhere. Thinking about these different forms reminded me that water shapes so much of life in ways we often overlook.

Overall, the talk left me inspired. I realized that learning about water isn’t just about studying the ocean, it’s about seeing the world differently, noticing the rhythms and flows that connect humans, animals, and environments. It made me want to pay more attention to the water around me, wherever I am.