Upon being chosen as a Black In Marine Science Tidal Wave Program inaugural fellow, one of my tasks and privileges was to attend this year’s United Nations Ocean Decade Conference in Spain, Barcelona. Initially, the plan was to speak about my PhD research (submitted in 2023), but that did not go according to plan and, instead, I was invited by Early Career Professionals V.ECOPS to contribute my knowledge in a roundtable discussion about Ulwazi Ocean Explorers which is my new ocean science mentorship program within my company Ulwazi Scientific Communications and STEM Research’s ocean sector. That was so FUN!

Thank You Tidal Wave for a Tidal Experience in Spain!

My heart is full! Heartfelt gratitude to BIMS Tidal Wave for their generous support, catapulting me to Spain, Barcelona for the United Nations Ocean Decade 2024. What an absolute privilege! It was definitely a tidal experience in Spain. Thanks to Tidal Wave’s unwavering support, I had the extraordinary opportunity to participate and contribute my wealth of ocean science and ocean mentorship-related knowledge with the world in a round table discussion amongst other ocean professionals from around the world. Activities ranged from thought-provoking discussions to groundbreaking collaborations, every moment was a testament to the power of collective action in preserving our planet’s most precious resource, the ocean.

Tidal wave is all about empowering change. At the conference, we were not just attendees, but advocates for change. Our presence at the UN Ocean Decade signified our shared commitment to driving positive impact, shaping the future of marine science, showing diversity in marine science and inspiring others to join the movement. At one point, while working in our booth to explain to everyone who came by what Black In Marine Science is all about, I had a visitor who was so moved by who we are, she was moved by what we represent, and I noticed that she was overcome by emotions and reached a point where she had to fight back tears. I was ready with tissues! The emotions were from knowing what we represent, but it looks like everyone gets so shocked by how bold we are when we say it while looking in the other person’s eyes. It’s our real lives! We live this and we are not shying away from speaking about it nor making sure it changes. We are the change we want to see! Tidal Wave makes this possible by flying us in to attend these conferences because otherwise we get sidelined. This is why you hardly see Black and POC at science conferences. We are intentionally sidelined! Their support is not just a catalyst for change; it’s a beacon of hope for our oceans and future generations. Join the Wave by becoming a BIMS member!