My name is Rose Santana. I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Florida to study marine science four years ago. I recently graduated with my Bachelors in Marine Biology and Minors in Environmental Studies and Marine and Coastal Affairs. And I currently work as a Lab Manager at Florida International University before applying for Graduate School next year.

When I was little I would always tell people that I wanted to be a veterinarian. I even went to college on a pre-vet track. However, the ocean had always been a wonderful and mysterious place to me. I spent countless days fishing with my dad and several summers visiting family in Myrtle Beach, SC, but I had no idea that you could study the ocean and its inhabitants as a job.

In June of 2020 we, the soon-to-be co-founders of MISS, connected/reconnected on Twitter through #BlackInNature, a hashtag that went viral after @BlackAFInSTEM launched Black Birders Week. As the hashtag grew we slowly increased our ranks. Suddenly, four women who had felt completely isolated now had a community of scientists that looked like them.

I am currently a PhD Candidate in Marine Science at North Carolina State University. I was born and raised in Stone Mountain GA, youngest of three daughters. I love the Atlanta Falcons and boiled peanuts are my favorite southern snack!

Growing up on an island that was only 26 miles long and 2 miles wide you couldn’t escape the sea if you tried. The sea and trips to the beach were a regular occurrence for me throughout my childhood, but it really wasn’t until 6th form (year 12) that I decided to get serious about a career in marine biology.

Karla Martins Is a Fisheries engineer from Brazil. As a PhD candidate, she is a Black woman in a space traditionally occupied by white men. Karla has a thought provoking and positive attitude to the changes that are being made to dismantle and reconstruct racial attitudes towards education.

Ida-Wenona Hendricks is a Tropical marine biologist, naturalist and budding taxonomist; she shares with us her journey as a Black African female marine biologist. Her unique experiences and the hurdles she has had to overcome in the industry. As a Namibian marine biologist Ida has faced repercussions for questioning neo-colonial practices in her home country. In addition, Ida is helping women of colour to protect their beautiful coils from saltwater in an eco-friendly way.

With the help of some inspiring, powerful and brilliant Black women, we have come together to share our stories of being Black women in marine science. I hope our stories and reflections inspire you. For some, this is the first time we have been able to share our experiences so candidly. For others, it is the first time we have been asked. We are making waves in this industry and are working hard to inspire future generations of women of colour in marine conservation.