Dr Suzie Starfish

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Dr Suzie Starfish

This page is dedicated to art and science storytelling. Best fishes always,

Dr Suzie Starfish
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Ocean storytelling using illustration and information to inspire the imagination about the wonders of our underwater world - with a BIG splash of ocean optimism! Dr Suzie Starfish is the 'alter ego' of Dr Sue Pillans who is a marine scientist, artist and children's author, specialising in environmental education and visual storytelling. Dr Suzie Starfish shares the amazing stories about the wonder

s of our underwater world through a range of art and science - from original marine artworks and underwater images to marine stories and fun facts. Dr Suzie Starfish has a great devotion for the ocean and through her words and pictures she hopes everyone gains a greater appreciation and understanding of our wonderous marine world. Her creative mantra revolves around:
Inspiration - Imagination - Illustration - Information

Dr Sue is a watercolour artist who has always been inspired by the ocean and all of its amazing creatures. As a marine ecologist Sue has spent much of her life studying and learning about the marine world and its many wonders. Sue's marine research experience ranges from how marine reserves work to the ecology of mud crabs and the movement of whale sharks and turtles. Her life long passion for the oceans is translated into her artworks and paintings using a mixture of watercolour, inks and mixed media. You can 'sea' more of Dr Sue's ocean storytelling via her website at www.drsuepillans.com and email her at [email protected].

28/01/2026

Diving into 2026!

Hola from Mexico as I dive into 2026! I cannot wait to ‘sea’ what this year brings. Hopefully it’s as colourful and vibrant as my time in Mexico.

I have just returned from an amazing trip to Baja California Sur in Mexico, where I got to explore the beautiful beaches and vast landscapes. I also got to swim with sea lions, which was a truly fantastic experience with BajaShark Tours. I may also have tasted my way through Baja with the best tacos ever, deliciosa! 🌮

Swimming with sea lions was a dream come true for me. They were not in the least bit interested in me as they were too busy playing, swimming, sleeping (and snoring!) or barking, just like big friendly sea dogs. What an amazing experience we had with Rommel and Mario from Baja Shark Tours in LaPaz, which also included a private gourmet lunch on the most beautiful beach in Mexico, Balandra Beach. Gracias!

After a big year in 2025 of drawing projects, school visits, library book readings and visual workshops I’m now feeling refreshed and ready to continue to make a splash about the beauty and importance of our oceans through words and pictures.

You can dive into more about my ocean storytelling at www.drsuepillans.com ✏️

05/11/2025

Being turtley awesome at Gundiah School

I was thrilled to visit Gundiah State School as a mentor for the Suntory and Earthwatch Australia Mizuiku Nature and Water School Program - which empowers primary school students to become Water Ambassadors through immersive, hands-on learning experiences through the ‘Kids Teaching Kids Program’.

As a marine scientist, artist, and children’s author/illustrator I shared my love of ocean storytelling and nature conservation in a full-day incursion. And as a small school I was able to teach the whole school for the whole day! What a FIN-tastic experience!

AND you know when I'm in my happy place when the entrance is made up of GIANT pencils. Write on!

Gundiah School is located in the Wide Bay region within the Mary River Basin so my visit focused on the important connection between nature and water. My visit included ocean story time, interactive science presentations, creative activities like turtle and fish “heARTs,” and ocean-themed artworks.

As a mentor for the ‘Kids Teaching Kids Program’ I used my experience as a marine scientist, artist and visual communicator to help students to develop and draw out (by hand) their own visual stories and materials - to present at their upcoming peer-teaching water education workshop which will be held with other primary schools in the region.

To help increase their own understanding of water-related issues and water-nature connection we focused on Fraser Island Green Turtles as the students Call to Action is: What we do upstream at Gundiah impacts downstream - every effort counts! As Green Turtles start their lives on a beach and then live their lives at sea understanding their biology, life cycle and the challenges they face helps to look after and protect them as water guardians.

To support the students in sharing and communicating their learnings I demonstrated the ‘art’ of visual storytelling through a range of hands-on approaches including sketchnotes, visual templates and toolkits, posters, cards and interactive games - helping to illustrate the students Call to Action.

The day was filled with creativity, visual and creative thinking and learning, with lot’s of fun and ocean puns! It was a great experience for me as visual storytelling is a powerful way to engage with students to empower them to be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world.

And the Principal's feedback was amazing, "Suzie’s unique blend of art and storytelling made marine science fun and accessible for everyone. She encouraged students to write her a letter or reach out with questions, inspiring ongoing curiosity".

Thank you for having me in your classroom Gundiah State School, keep being turtley awesome!

You can dive into more of my ocean storytelling and creative education at www.drsuepillans.com

31/10/2025

Happy World Teachers Day!

THIS is so great to sea Gundiah State School! What a wonderful way to shell-e-brate my visit to your school and to teachers everywhere!

I will share more about this FIN-tastic school incursion here soon, where we dived into the art and science of ocean storytelling and our love of Fraser Coast turtles.

You can ‘sea’ more about my ocean storytelling over at www.drsuepillans.com

Stay turtley awesome 🐢
Best fishes 🐠🐠🐠

30/07/2025

DIVING into OCEAN STORYTELLING!

I'm EXCITED to be visiting Gympie Regional Libraries (at Rainbow Beach Library) at the Rainbow Beach Markets to dive into National Science Week and

I will be holding storytime for the little ones at Rainbow Beach Library as we “Book an adventure” underwater with my latest kids book, “Roger the wrasse and itchy fishes”.

This story illustrates the importance of diversity on the reef and the special relationships animals have under the sea. This story was inspired by my time snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef where I got to 'sea' these amazing interactions happen on real-life cleaning stations. WOW!

My visit will also include fun hands on activities for the kids to create lots of art with heART for our oceans 💙

As a marine scientist, artist and author I love using the art and science of storytelling to excite, engage, educate and empower children that they can be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world.

So JOIN ME at Rainbow Beach Library on Market Day from 10-11am on Saturday 9th August 2025. Signed copies of my books will also be available to buy for the special starfish in your life.

You can ‘sea’ more about my ocean storytelling at www.drsuepillans.com and dive into the story behind my stories at https://drsuepillans.com/books/

SEA you there!
Best fishes, Suzie

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11/02/2025

Dr Suzie Starfish turns 10!

This is my happy place and this week I’m celebrating 10 years of being Dr Suzie Starfish! WOW!!

I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I started sharing my LOVE of the ocean through my art and science storytelling. The greatest joy of my work has been interacting with children and students in classrooms, libraries and kindy’s across Australia and overseas AND creating my series of ocean picture books with Little Pink Dog Books and Little Steps Publishing.

Using my visual, creative and interactive approaches I engage, educate, excite and empower children of all ages that they CAN be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world.

One of my proudest achievements over this time has been the creation of my series of children’s ocean picture books, written and illustrated by Dr Suzie Starfish. This series of books draws attention to important global issues around climate change and coral bleaching, plastic pollution and marine debris and the importance of marine biodiversity. Creating picture books is a long process, with each book taking at least 2-3 years to create (with my first book taking 6 years!), with countless drafts written and hundreds of paintings created. To engage with my young readers all of my books are based on positive storytelling and marine science with messages of hope and solutions. Thank you to my Publishers for bringing my ocean stories to life and to this community for supporting my books.

Over this time I have also shown children (and teachers and parents) that not all scientists wear lab coats, some of us wear fins and use pens, paints and paper to communicate science, making learning visual, creative and FUN! Which is important to ‘sea’... as you can’t be, what you can’t sea.

A BIG thank you to all the teachers, librarians and educators from across Australia and overseas who have invited Dr Suzie Starfish into your classrooms, libraries, kindy’s and groups. It is the biggest joy.

And a special thank you to this community for being so supportive of my ocean storytelling journey. I dedicate this 10 years of work to my younger sister Jodie who we tragically lost 12 years ago, who showed me what real courage is. It is the special people in my life that have given me the courage to follow my heART. Thank you.

You can dive into more of my ocean storytelling at www.drsuepillans.com

11/12/2024

MERRY FISHmas!

SO this year I became a Mermaid! A Mermaid for science and art! I hope you had some fun highlights from your 2024, as you can 'sea' I 'shore' did!!

As I draw towards the end of the year (literally) I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon and celebrate another exciting year of sharing my ocean optimism through my art and science storytelling as Dr Suzie Starfish.

This year was full of fun firsts for me, not only was I a Mermaid, but I got to promote World Oceans Day through my storytime visits, I was invited to read my books to children in other countries, I got invited to School Camp AND I released my 3rd children’s ocean picture book, "Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes" (illustrating the importance of marine biodiversity)!

As a marine scientist, artist and author/illustrator I am so very proud to have created a series of ocean picture books for children, so each child has access to the wonders of our underwater world and can learn about the importance of our oceans. It is my hope that my stories empower children that they can be the change they want to 'sea' in the world. So I now have an ocean trilogy of kids books!! WOW!

How lucky and grateful I am to be able to do what I do.

And every year I get to work with some incredible people and organisations, and I am forever grateful to my clients, schools and libraries for valuing the work that I do. These creative collaborations are very special to me and I am proud of the time and effort I put into each and every visit, presentation and book reading that I do.

And whilst I’m so very grateful for turning something I love into something I live, it doesn’t come without a lot of hard work and sacrifices, as running a small business is the hardest, but most enjoyable work I’ve ever done. So I’m looking forward to ‘sea-ing’ what next year brings as I look at all the opportunities before me.

Thank you for being such a supportive community on this platform.

And a special hug to my creative companion Mr Fergus who we sadly lost this year and who I miss terribly every single day. You have left such a BIG hole in my heART.

Wishing you all a very Merry FISHmas and SEA you in 2025! You can dive into more of my ocean storytelling and environmental education at www.drsuepillans.com

20/11/2024

SCHOOL CAMP was FIN-tastic!

SO I went to School Camp and it was AMAZING! As a marine scientist, artist, author and visual communicator I was recently invited to the Writers and Illustrators school camp at the Barambah Environmental Education Centre. And as you can 'sea' we had such a GREAT TIME!

What an extraordinary educational centre, amazing staff and fabulous students! Located in the middle of a forest, there was no mobile reception or wifi, but we found a better connection, with each other, storytelling and nature.

I had such a great time engaging with these Year 4-6 students, who came from far and wide from seven regional State Schools: Wondai, Kumbia, Gunalda, Kilkivan, Gympie Central, Kingaroy and Taabinga.

My visit as Dr Suzie Starfish included highly interactive and creative sessions to engage, educate and excite students about the wonders of art, science and storytelling. My sessions included:
- Ocean storytelling: how to create your own picture book
- Tagging along with marine megafauna: creating your own magical marine artworks and a BIG maker space about whale sharks
- How to sketchnote your science (…and everything!): visual note-taking in classrooms

What a pleasure to be able to share my journey as a marine scientist, artist, author and business women with the next generation of writers, illustrators, scientists, artists, storytellers and entrepreneurs…. the future is bright!

I wish we had camps like this when I was at school - “as you can’t be what you can’t SEA” - and what a perfect place to Connect People and Place.

And the students gave me the BEST feedback on my visit - as I was leaving camp one of the students approached me with her work asking, “Dr Suzie Starfish can you please autograph my work”. I replied, “Of course, I would love to”. And after signing her work and writing her a special message I looked up to the see the other 25 students lined up asking me to autograph their work too!

I felt like a ROCK STAR!!

A BIG thank you to Principal and all of the great staff at the Centre who welcomed me with open arms and supported me during my visit.

You can see more about my school visits, workshops and environmental education at www.drsuepillans.com

01/09/2024

My furever beach boy

Fergus was my family, my beach boy and my creative companion. My heART is completely broken as we have just had to say goodbye to our beautiful Fergus. I don’t have the words right now, just a deep sadness.

Mr Fergus was my little man and my bestie the Westie for 14 wonderful years. Thank you to Agnes Coast Vet Clinic for your compassion and kindness.

Fergus has always been by my side and brought me so much joy. He was my family and I was such a proud dog mum. And for the past 9.5 years he has been involved in all of my creative activities as Dr Suzie Starfish, in every drawing, painting, picture book and costume.

He was the dearest little man who taught me patience, living in the moment and the joy of just being yourself.

I miss you so much.
I love you so much.
I will always be your mum.

Now run free on the beach my beautiful little beach boy xo 💙💙💙🐾

07/08/2024

You can't be what you can't 'sea'!

I’m diving into National the best way I know how, as a Mermaid! I was SO EXCITED to be part of the STEAMzone Twilight Science Market being held by the Gympie Regional STEM Hub and Cooloola Coastcare Association Inc (convened by Lindy Orwin and team) for National Science Week!

My new Mermaid-esque outfit, which was also fitted with lights for this night time event, was a BIG hit with children, and people of all ages (a BIG thank you to Kylie Anissa Betteridge for her amazing sewing skills)! I was thrilled by the response to my ocean science-art tent where we made turtle and fish heARTs, read my ocean stories amongst all of my ocean toys and shared our love of all things oceans.

One of the conversations I had with a young girl made my heART sing:

Young girl: “Are you a girl scientist”?
Me: “Yes I am”
Young girl: “And you also do art?”
Me: “Yes I do”
Young girl: “And you get to be a Mermaid”?
Me: “Yes, I'm Dr Suzie Starfish and a mermaid”
Young girl: pause “…WOW”!

How privileged am I as Dr Suzie Starfish to be able to have these conversations with children. As a marine scientist, artist, author and business woman I hope that living my life with ESTEAM (add Entrepreneur STEAM) helps our children to SEA that not all scientists wear white coats, you can become anything you put your mind to, you just have to follow your heART.
..As you can't be what you can't SEA!

I use art and science storytelling to engage the heARTs and minds of children. In my world the ART of SCIENCE is not tacked onto STEM/STEAM, but integrated into my storytelling work to give children the creative thinking skills they need to problem solve, think outside the box and colour outside the lines, literally!

What a FIN-tastic fun family event to be part of at the Rainbow Beach Community Centre Hall. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who made this event happen. AND a BIG thank you to all of those who attended this STEAMzone event and visited me and my new mermaid outfit! 🧜‍♀️

You can ‘dive’ into more of my ocean storytelling and science communication over on my website at www.drsuepillans.com

17/07/2024

Diving into the STEAMzone Festival!

I’m SO EXCITED to be part of the STEAMzone Twilight Science Market being held next month at Visit Rainbow Beach by the Gympie Regional STEM Hub and Cooloola Coastcare Association Inc (Lindy Orwin) for National Science Week!

As a marine scientist, artist and children’s author (as Dr Suzie Starfish) I will be one of the many scientists children and adults can meet and engage with at the STEAMzone Festival. At this FREE family friendly event there will be scientist encounters, hands-on activities, things to make, amazing displays and so much to ‘sea’, learn and do!

Over in the "Dr Suzie Starfish tent" there will be ‘SEA Story Time’ where I will be reading my ocean picture books for children, including my new book "Roger the Wrasse and the itchy fishes", which illustrates the importance of biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef. You will also be able to ‘sea’ how I created my series of ocean picture books, as for the first time I will be showcasing the creative process and artwork of my science stories. AND everyone will be able to create marine art with heART.

…AND I might even be revealing a new ocean-inspired outfit with a mermaid-esque theme!! Remember that not all scientists wear lab coats, some of us dress like the sea and use pen, paints and paper to ‘draw attention’ to science!
..You can't be what you can't SEA...

This STEAMzone event will be held at the Rainbow Beach Community Hall and Parklands on Saturday 3rd August from 4-7pm. You can ‘sea’ more at https://www.steamzone.org.au and https://www.facebook.com/events/479466738102116/

And you can dive into more of my ocean storytelling at www.drsuepillans.com

12/06/2024

MAKING A SPLASH!

As you can ‘sea’ I was very excited to celebrate World Oceans Day by reading my new children’s picture book, “Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes” with the First 5 Forever group for Gympie Regional Libraries.

My new picture book illustrates the importance of marine biodiversity and the special relationships animals have under the sea on reef cleaning stations. This story also has a special message that no matter how small you are you can make a BIG difference in the world! I just love the real-life story of “Roger the wrasse”, and can’t wait to share it with more children.

We had a FIN-tastic morning of songs and story time, followed by a chat about how much we love the ocean and all of its sea creatures. We then dived into some fishy heART and created an ocean mural together with our hands!

One of my biggest joys as Dr Suzie Starfish is getting to share my love of the ocean with children and ‘sea’ their eyes light up when they hear and learn about the wonders of the sea. Visual storytelling coupled with reading books is such a powerful way to engage, educate, excite and empower the next generation that they CAN be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world.

A BIG thank you to Therese and Kirsty at Rainbow Beach Library for all of your amazing support of my ocean storytelling. It is always an absolute joy to visit your library.

You can find out more about ‘Roger the wrasse’ at https://drsuepillans.com/books/reef-cleaning-stations/ and email me directly to buy a signed copy of my books at [email protected]

Best fishes, Suzie

14/02/2024

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY!!

I LOVE SEA-ing THIS! This week not only does Dr Suzie Starfish turn 9, but due to the recent release of my new picture book I now have a trilogy of ocean stories to share!

I created Dr Suzie Starfish to share my love of marine art and science with our little ones. And over the past nine years I have visited countless schools, kindy’s and libraries, shared the importance of using science and technology to help learn about and protect marine animals and environments, helped students to learn how to visualise their science through sketchnotes AND written and illustrated a series of children’s ocean picture books.

So I’m feeling very proud today.

I had a dream many many years ago to create a series of kids books which were based on science, with messages of solutions and hope. My books dive into BIG and challenging global issues of climate change, plastic pollution and marine biodiversity. So to provide a safe and secure environment for children to learn and talk about these issues I use the power of positive storytelling.

Science communication is more important than ever as we try to tackle these growing global issues, and as picture books are the first books children are exposed to, my stories put the science in fiction to start these early conversations.

Little did I know when I started this journey nine years ago that it would take me 2-3 years to create EACH book as an ‘Authorstrator’. But it was worth all of the time, effort and sacrifice when you read your stories to children and ‘sea’ their excitement as their faces light up and lot’s of little fingers are pointing at the colourful pages.

So it’s time to shell-e-brate my love of the sea and hope that all the little starfish out there also fall in love with the ocean and the joy of reading.

Thank you for your continued support of my ocean storytelling. Can you believe its been 9 years of Dr Suzie Starfish stories!

You can ‘sea’ more of my ocean storytelling at https://drsuepillans.com/books/ and contact me at [email protected].

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http://drsuepillans.com/

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