Have you ever been at the beach with friends, and no one could agree on what to do? Maybe one person wanted to swim, another to explore, and someone else just wanted to chill. That is kind of like how people see the ocean; everyone has their own idea of what it is for!
Some see the ocean as a place to work, study, relax, protect, or even as part of who they are. These views come from our experiences, cultures, knowledge, and feelings. They shape how we treat the ocean and all the amazing creatures that live there, like the weedy seadragon or giant kelp forests.
But there is a big challenge. When we see things differently, it is not always easy to agree on what is best for our communities and the sea. That is where my research comes in.
As a marine scientist, I study how different groups – like fishers, ocean workers, and local communities – think about new activities happening in the sea. For example, what if we build marine farms very far away from the shore. That could be beneficial or harmful. Because we don’t know what will happen yet, and we have to choose what ideas to try first, we call those “risks”. As we cannot choose all the ideas at the same time, we have to give some of them up. That’s called a “trade-off.”
When I was a kid, I never imagined having this professional career. I was curious, full of hobbies, and couldn’t pick just one. But my love for exploring and asking questions led me to study sharks, go diving, work with fishers, and study the deep sea. I also found joy in sharing science through art, so I decided to become a scientific illustrator too. There is no one way to achieve your dreams. Follow what makes you curious and trust your own journey!
