Women and the Ocean: 8 Female Ocean Activists to Keep an Eye On
- EUMCS Committee
- Mar 9, 2021
- 4 min read
Yesterday was International Women’s Day - and, March is International Women’s month, so there truly is no better time than now to share some of the inspiring women in the marine conservation world who we aspire to be like.
Firstly, we’d like to take a moment to focus on why gender equality and social justice is absolutely necessary for climate justice and marine conservation, which is brilliantly summarised in the infographic below.
Without doubt, we must recognise the global relationship women have with the ocean and equally the disproportionate impacts they face - a fact acknowledged by the UN.
To learn more read here to watch this video
With this in mind here are 8 phenomenal women we want to celebrate and share with you:
1. Firstly, the iconic Sylvia Earle
Born in 1935. Dr Sylvia Earle is an infamous marine biologist who has devoted her life to studying and conserving our world’s ocean. She is a world class academic, explorer, author and lecturer and has, as a result, received numerous awards. For example, TIME Magazine’s first ever “Hero for the Planet”. She has been a National Geographic explorer-in-residence since 1998 and was the first female chief scientist of the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She is also a part of the group Ocean Elders - dedicated to the protection of the ocean. A truly awe-inspiring woman with too many remarkable achievements than can be covered here.
You may have heard about her recently via the documentary Mission Blue - An Emmy award-winning documentary that explores the changes in the ocean as seen through her eyes. Learn more at the Sylvia Earle Foundation Mission Blue.
Her current work aims to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
In response to those who cannot comprehend the importance of our ocean she said:
“They should know that with every breath they take, every drop of water they drink, the ocean is touching them. You should treat the ocean as if your life depends on it — because it does.”
86 years old and 6000 hours underwater. A wonderful water woman.
2. Asha de Vos
Who is she? A Sri Lankan marine biologist, educator and National Geographic Explorer. Asha uses the media to change the public conversations surrounding marine conservation and is currently pioneering blue whale research. She is a TED Fellow and was also awarded a BBC 100 Women award in 2018.
She studied her undergraduate degree Marine and Environmental Biology not far from us at the University of St Andrews before completing Masters and a PhD at the University of Oxford and the University of Western Australia.
Remarkably, Asha is the first and only Sri Lankan to gain a PhD in marine mammal research
It is because of Asha’s work that the International Whaling Commission recognised that Sri Lankan blue whales are a species that urgently require conservation and is now a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cetacean Specialist Group.
As if this wasn’t enough Asha founded the non-profit Oceanswell Sri Lanka's first marine conservation research and education organisation.
"Everyday is World Oceans Day for me. I'm either in, on or around ocean or I'm thinking about how to drive change. I feel intensely responsible about leaving this world a better place I found it."
3. Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Marine Biologist and co-founder of not 1 or 2 but 3 fantastic ocean action initiatives: Blue Halo Initiative, Ocean Collectiv and Urban Ocean Lab.
Ayana is a wealth of knowledge noting the following as her areas of expertise:
Ocean Policy
Marine zoning/ spatial planning
Fisheries management
Seafood
Community engagement
Philanthropic advising
Strategic planning
Instigating dance parties
Science communication
Public speaking
Event curation
Moderation and facilitation
She is also a powerful feminist, triumphing female voices in this climate movement
4. Hannah Rudd
An MSc Marine Environmental Management graduate sharing her love and knowledge for conservation and communication - specifically related to sharks. She writes on engaging topics for her blog and is such a passionate feminist presence in the marine conservation realm - most notably through her project "Leading Women in Marine Science” where she interviewed women from around the world to draw attention to the diversity of brilliant female minds tackling our ocean’s issues from an array of disciplines.
5. Madison Stewart
Better known as “shark girl” - an activist and filmmaker sharing with the world the issues facing sharks
6. Emily Penn
A Welsh Skipper and Ocean Advocate. Emily is awesome. She founded eXXpedition - an all-women sailing crew that focuses on environmental and health impacts of ocean plastic. She has sailed around the world on scientific trips researching acidification, pollution and toxins - which may have impacts on women’s bodies (during puberty and breastfeeding)
Emily is the youngest and only woman to receive Yachtmaster of the Year, awarded by HRH Princess Royal and the Seamaster of the Year Award.
"We all share one ocean regardless of where we come from, so this is an issue that transcends all political boundaries and borders."
7. Shannon Switzer Swanson
You may have met Shannon (virtually) at our co-hosted panel discussion with Conscious Change and EUWSC: Waves of Change. We were stoked when Shannon agreed to spend her time engaging in a discussion with us because she is such a passionate marine social ecologist. She holds a deep recognition for the importance of social issues arising from marine problems. At the moment she is studying her PhD at Stanford University mixing anthropology, psychology and ecology. She too is a National Geographic Explorer and uses film and photography to engage community members as participants in her research to improve coastal management to sustain culture and livelihoods into the future
8. Finally, Kristal Ambrose
A youth educator and marine plastic pollution researcher. Kristal founded the Bahamas Plastic Movement after studying the Western Garbage Patch. It is a youth-led initiative, giving voices to and educating the next generation of leaders. Their work and dedicated focus on marine plastics led to the Bahamian government banning all single-use plastics.
In 2020, Kristal won the Goldman Environmental Prize. Follow her here.
Resources
Another great resource Women in Ocean Science
and more fantastic women championed by PADI here
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