20th Anniversary Collection: The seaweed scientist who survived being scalped

Marine ecologist, Pia Winberg learned how useful seaweed could be for gut health and wound healing. One day she was conducting research by herself in her lab when she had a terrible accident.

Pia was four-years-old when she moved from her native Sweden to Australia.

She always loved the beach and the coastline. 

As an adult, Pia became fascinated with the scientific properties of seaweed after visiting a Sri Lankan prawn farm using seaweed to bolster the health of the surrounding environment.

She became a marine ecologist in Wollongong south of Sydney, looking at the unique ways seaweed could help clean the ocean and help people with various ailments.

In 2015 Pia set up her own seaweed farm, on the edge of an alcohol distillery in the town of Nowra.

One day she was emptying seaweed extract from a tank when a large section of her scalp was torn away from her head by a machine.

The accident could've killed her if she'd fainted. Instead Pia walked 200 metres from the factory to her office, to tell her staff what had happened.

Further information

2025 update: Pia has now had six reconstruction surgeries, and seaweed gels have played a huge part in her healing.  Pia explains: using Phyaluronic formulations, which we coined to describe seaweed gels that mimic human tissue, has been transformative in my recovery… I am now 90% reconstructed on top.

Originally broadcast July 2019.

Learn more about Pia's work with seaweed.

More information about Australia's unique seaweed species.

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The executive producer was Carmel Rooney.

This episode of Conversations touches on seaweed, sustainable farming, emergency services, near-fatal accidents, epic life story, origin story, oceans and marine research.

Standout story – Bill Bailey

Hear Richard’s conversation with Bill Bailey:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/conversations-bill-bailey/8032120

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.