Where the Waters Meet on the Breathing Shore

Directed by Shaniya Utamidata

"Where the Waters Meet on the Breathing Shore" is a 25 minute science documentary exploring the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary in Tuckerton, NJ, where freshwater rivers meet the saltwater sea. Graduate student and science storyteller Shaniya Utamidata joins marine scientists at Rutgers University Marine Field Station, Dr. Thomas Grothues, Dr. Ken Able, Dr. Oscar Schofield, and Lisa Auermuller to reveal how these “breathing shores” sustain biodiversity, filter water, and buffer communities against climate change. Blending scientific insight with reflection, the film transforms field research into a personal journey of discovery. Using a Science-in-Action Storytelling Model, we invite young audiences, especially students from underrepresented backgrounds, to see themselves in the story of science. In connecting the marshes of New Jersey to the coasts of Indonesia, "Where the Waters Meet on the Breathing Shore" shows how one estuary’s story belongs to the entire planet.