Coral Conservation and the Importance of Community: An Interview with PhD student Aliyah Griffith

By Farrah Leone

Hey! Tell us a bit about yourself. 

My name is Aliyah Griffith. I am a PhD student in the Marine Science department at UNC Chapel Hill. I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University and my Master’s of Science from my current department. I study coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean, how they have changed over time and what changes we might expect in the future.

How did you get to where you are now?

I am where I am now through the help of mentors and the support I’ve received from friends and family. I knew what I wanted to do at a pretty young age, so I planned what I needed to do to be successful in my field. That plan has included internships, shadowing programs, classes, volunteer opportunities and visits to aquariums and aquatic centers. All of these encounters combined provided me the experiences and resources to learn and be prepared for working in my current field/industry. I would recommend spending time with people who are doing what you want to do before you go to college. It puts your classroom learning into context and gives you a real-world perspective.

Can you explain more about what your job entails?

My job as a graduate student is multi-faceted. It involves assisting in teaching courses, conducting research analysis, diving, discovery, collecting and documenting data in the field overseas, running statistics, collaborating with other scientists and labs, and taking courses and independent study to enhance my understanding of material.

How do you hope your voice and work as a marine educator will influence others?

I hope that my voice can add perspective and hope. As we fight to save our oceans, it is important to understand that the only way to make true change is to find ways to communicate the importance of the fight to our communities.  Also, as a Black marine educator, I want to let children of color, especially Black children, know that they are smart, their perspective is important and appreciated and they are not just allowed, but encouraged to follow their dreams to study the ocean. We need everyone in the fight to save our oceans.

Why is it so important to engage the community with your work? 

My work reaches the local island community, the larger coral community, and the general public. The local island community is an essential part of my research and I would not be able to study in Barbados without their expertise. As a coastal community directly affected by climate change, Barbados has a vested interest in the success of my work. For my work to be a success, I need to know what is most important to the community, so that together, we can create practical and mutually beneficial ways to study coral and the management of it. This will allow Barbados to continue the work of saving their coral even when I go back home. I hope to add a new perspective and helping hand to their already great strides in coral reef management. My research can also fill in gaps in coral characteristics within the larger coral community as various scientists try to follow trends and compare scientific findings about tropical reef ecosystems. The general public must then stay informed to take action and protect our seas.

What has the most challenging part of your career been? And how did you solve this? 

I feel like there have been a lot of challenges from a lot of different directions and for a lot of different reasons, not just one. If you dwell on the challenges, you will never accomplish anything and you will live life discouraged. When a challenge arises, one should step back and do an assessment. Pray, think through it, garner your resources, if needed, and find a way over, around or through it. There is always more than one way of getting something accomplished. You don’t have to do it the way someone else did. If there isn’t a path for you, clear the underbrush and make one.

Who or what do you draw your inspiration from? 

I draw my inspiration from progress and hope. I find these in other black marine scientists following their path, trailblazers in ocean science, young scientists finding a new love in aquatic sciences, successful restoration projects and management techniques and diving on healthy reefs. I feel that in each of these categories there is such a sense of power, connection, and community that propels you to keep going and want to continue to make changes in either your personal community or in the ocean itself. 

What has your experience as a woman in marine science been like?

At UNC, I am often the only Black person in a room or lab, but it is great because I am usually joined by other women and that is a wonderful thing. Even when I interned at the aquarium or swam with dolphins or had marine science professors, there were always women there. Science is still male dominated, but I have seen a lot of shifting and changes in how many women are present. We are definitely in the room, finding our voices, and making room for more.

Whose work has influenced and inspired you?

I would say Sylvia Earle and Danni Washington. Over the years, I have found myself drawn to these two women and inspired to follow my love of the ocean. Sylvia helped me understand that initial access to the ocean through documentaries and videos. Being outside of an aquarium and in my living room experiencing kelp forests and coral reefs was amazing and eye opening. Danni inspired me that I have a voice in marine science as a Black woman and that it can come in so many forms. Learning to brand myself and understanding how to market myself as multi-talented and multi-faceted is something I will always be grateful to have learned from her. Both allowed me to look at my career differently and see just how far I could really go in this field. 

What is one thing you wish someone had told you/taught you a long time ago?

Don’t waste your time trying to explain your calling or passion to others. It wasn’t a conference call for a reason. If you feel it in your heart that this is meant for you, then make it happen.

Where do you go from here?

I am continuing to get my doctorate and hope to work on coral conservation. I plan to continue working and volunteering with the UNC organizations and programs based around diversity and science communication.

A message from Aliyah:

Sometimes finding support in an unconventional field is hard and you don’t know where to start. Mahogany Mermaids is an organization geared to support and uplift children of color in the aquatic sciences. Our organization is based virtually allowing for accessible content, workshops, and resources to allow parents and children to dive into aquatic science opportunities. Come visit us at Mahoganymermaids.com.


You can keep up with Aliyah and her work by following her on Instagram and Twitter:

IG Handle: @cnidariannerd

Twitter: @cnidariannerd