Oceans Initiative is proud to share that our Executive Director and Senior Scientist Dr. Erin Ashe was featured in a recent issue of Canadian Geographic magazine. The article: “A labour of love: Using photo-identification to track Pacific white-sided dolphins” discusses Erin’s long-term research to better understand this species. In fact, Erin has been studying Pacific white-sided dolphins in Canada’s Broughton Archipelago since 2005 and has devoted much of her work to protecting this population of dolphins. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy the article.
Dolphins have the ability to draw people in to really appreciate and connect with nature — and I think that’s something we all need right now more than ever.
Do you remember being a child and someone asking you, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Some of us certainly answered, ‘a Marine Biologist!’ But how many of us followed that dream? What does it even look like to be a marine scientist? Each of the womxn on our team at Oceans Initiative has their own story for what led them to pursue a career in marine science. We’ve all faced unique challenges and discovered things about ourselves along the way. Science in general is a predominantly male field, but we’re changing that one woman scientist at a time. We’re just a few of the ever-growing faces of ‘Womxn in Marine Science.’ In honor of International Womxn’s Day, here we share our stories with you to invite all budding marine scientists, particularly the underrepresented, to get curious about what it means to pursue this dream. It looks different for everyone, and we hope you feel compelled to share your stories with us in the comments section, too!
Meet the Womxn:
My name is Kimberly Nielsen and I’m a Research Associate at Oceans Initiative. I started as a member of the 2020 Southern Resident killer whale field team, but my role has evolved to support a variety of projects. My day-to-day involves a little bit of everything: crunching numbers, building ecological models, mapping spatial data, writing papers and reports, and collecting data in the field. Outside of work and science I find joy in hiking, paddle boarding, traveling, and reading.
My name is Marena Salerno Collins, and I am a Research Associate with Oceans Initiative. I have been working for the organization for almost 4 years and have held various roles over that time. I am grateful for the organization and the inspiring womxn I get to work beside every day. Besides my work in marine science, I am a musician, artist, sailor, and avid outdoor enthusiast.
My name is Katie Wold and I am a Biological Research Technician for Oceans Initiative. I have worked primarily on the TAST (Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology) project, which involved counting seals and recording their distance from the device to evaluate the efficacy of our acoustic deterrent device. I’m also part of the team theodolite tracking Southern Resident killer whales around San Juan Island. I am so thankful to be part of team that works together on a variety of projects that make a difference to marine life locally and around the world.
My name is Stephanie Reiss and I am a marine biologist, field researcher, and natural world enthusiast. I am a Biological Research Assistant with Oceans Initiative. Under this role, I have participated in data collection in the field, post-processing, report writing, and more. I have gained a variety of skills during my time with Oceans Initiative including theodolite tracking of cetaceans, Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST), and hydrophone deployment. Outside of work, I enjoy writing, reading, cooking, and all kinds of outdoor activities.
My name is Andrea Mendez-Bye. I am a scientist, a friend, a daughter, and a woman. I am a highly passionate and driven person with a huge goal of saving as many animals as I possibly can. I get overly excited and feel so much joy from the work I do. My role with Oceans Initiative is currently working on analyses of data on Pacific white-sided dolphins as well as the Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST).
How and why did you get involved in Marine Science and Oceans Initiative?
Kimberly: I’ve always felt at home on or under the water. Growing up in southern California, I spent a lot of time at the beach tide pooling, body surfing, and freediving. That passion for the ocean naturally evolved into curiosity so I pursued a degree in Marine Science. After spending a few years doing remote fieldwork studying sea turtles and cetaceans, I recognized that I was lacking some quantitative skills and decided to complete a graduate degree focused on statistics and spatial ecology. This work fit perfectly with the mission of Oceans Initiative.
Katie:Growing up around the Puget Sound, I’ve always loved exploring and investigating the marine world. Some of my earliest memories are poking around in tide pools, trying (and failing) to catch small fishes, finding hermit crabs, and watching seals pop their heads out of the waves. As I grew older, my curiosity for marine life grew with me. In high school I began volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium, where I learned so much about the organisms I’d been seeing my whole life that I was inspired to further my knowledge by studying Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. After gaining experience from a variety of field research projects, I began working for Oceans Initiative during the summer of 2021.
Katie Wold collecting data on harbor seal responses to Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology at Ballard Locks, Seattle.
When do you feel most empowered in your work and what is one project you are working on that inspires you? Why?
Marena: I feel most empowered and inspired when I see evidence of actual action towards conservation efforts because of the work we do. While working with Oceans Initiative, I have seen multiple projects go from conception to publication. To see how an idea can become a groundbreaking piece of science is astounding. I feel empowered in these moments because I feel and see our power as womxn in marine science and am briefly able to quantify our impact.
Stephanie: I feel most empowered in my work when I am working with others who inspire me or encourage me to be at my best. The Southern resident killer whale project inspires me because it is a project with a lot of weight behind it—working with an endangered population—and sometimes, it can feel pretty heavy. However, myself and the rest of the team share a passion and desire for helping and protecting them so much so that even when we have really long days or a challenge pops up, we all rise to the occasion.
Andrea: I feel most empowered in work when I see amazing things happen in front of me. Two major examples of this are in the field and in the office. When I am in the field and I see something incredible, such as a super pod of Southern resident killer whales in the sunset with a close knit team I feel unstoppable. Or when I am in the office working hard on an analysis and a significant trend appears, I get really excited and feel like I can do anything. A project that inspires me currently is the dolphin project, there are so many questions to be asked regarding Pacific white-sided dolphins currently. I feel fortunate to have an inquisitive brain, when I start to ask questions and figure out the answers piece by piece it is rewarding in a way that is hard to explain.
Members of the 2021 Southern resident killer whale field team theodolite-tracking from land on San Juan Island (including: Kimberly, Andrea, and Stephanie behind camera).
What are you looking forward to in your career (near or far in the future)?
Katie: I’m looking forward to continuing to study organisms and ecosystems that fascinate me. I hope to continue conducting field work and spending as much time outdoors and collecting data as I can. I’m also looking forward to furthering my education and becoming more comfortable with the statistical side of research.
Stephanie: I am looking forward to more learning opportunities in the field. I love the “learning-while-doing” approach of some fieldwork. One thing that is ever-present in fieldwork too is unpredictability. You can do your best to be prepared for any scenario but there will always be some moments that you simply could not have foreseen. I look forward to those moments too because it offers the unique opportunity to respond to challenges that you may or may not have encountered before.
Andrea and Stephanie doing fieldwork with Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology at Whatcom Creek in Bellingham.
Did you have a womxn role model that influenced your decision to pursue this career? If so, who?
Kimberly: I’ve been lucky to have so many strong, inspiring womxn in my life who taught me to believe in myself. When I started studying marine science and oceanography, however, I really struggled to find a mentor in a field dominated by men—many of whom didn’t take my research interests seriously (and voiced that to me multiple times). It took a little longer than planned, but I carved a nonlinear path into the career that I wanted. I am so grateful to all of the womxn I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from along the way, including the ladies at Oceans Initiative who continue to inspire me with their dedication and innovation.
Marena:Erin Ashe has been an incredible role model and inspiration for me. Because I started my marine science career with Oceans Initiative, I just thought it was normal to do everything she does, as she was the only example I had. However, I quickly realized, and continue to believe, that she is a marine science superhero. She has been illustrating for decades what is possible for womxn in this field while simultaneously empowering countless people along the way.
Dr. Erin Ashe and Katie deploying a hydrophone off the Oceans Initiative research boat ‘Wishart’ (featuring Molly Brown dog).
What challenges or differences do you believe still exist in the field of science, if any?
Andrea: The major challenges that still exist are the opportunities to find a good job. It takes many scientists, both womxn and men, a long time to enter this field because of the lack of resources. Additionally, a big hurdle to climb is the very competitive environment that can potentially stop people from joining or sharing science for the benefits of the animals.
Katie: There is still a huge reliance on unpaid internships and volunteering to gain experience that is necessary to secure future jobs or graduate positions. This is an obstacle for a lot of early career scientists, and often results in a lack of diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and points of view that I believe is a massive loss to our field.
Marena operating the theodolite at San Juan County Park.
What is some advice you would share with a womxn who is interested in going into marine science?
Andrea:Don’t give up! When things are hard and you feel like quitting, hold on to a special moment that can’t be replaced. That way you will always have motivation. I call them my National Geographic moments, the moments with wild individuals that will always glow in my mind like highlighting a favorite quote in a book.
Marena:The advice I would give a womxn who is interested in going into marine science would be: You can do anything you set your mind to. I know it sounds cheesy, but it is also some of the best advice I have ever gotten. Just take one step at a time, see where you want to be and work towards it, even if only in baby steps. Don’t get discouraged by not getting there immediately or taking steps that don’t have a positive linear trend. Additionally, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and know your worth both as an individual and a scientist. Not knowing something is not synonymous to failing, it just means there are still things to learn.
Kimberly: There are certain challenges to being a womxn in STEM, and unfortunately, on top of the imbalance created by a biased system, some of the barriers we run into are those we make for ourselves. To any womxn pursuing a career in STEM or marine science: remember that you are brilliant, you are an integral part of any team you’re on, and your perspective matters. Everyone’s path into this field looks different and our career timelines are often self-imposed. It is never too late to go after your goals.
Stephanie: Some advice that I would share with womxn interested in marine science is to broaden your perspective of what fits within the bounds of “marine science.” There are all kinds of opportunities that involve marine science that are not necessarily the status-quo. Pick up different kinds of skills and experience where you can (such as fieldwork, statistical analysis, scientific writing etc.) and don’t feel discouraged if you try something and discover that you simply don’t like it. You can pursue a career in marine science without being a field researcher, statistician, or grant writer. There are a multitude of possibilities but the more you introduce yourself to a variety of skills, the more prepared you will be to tackle any obstacles that come your way.
Katie: I would advise any womxn looking to get into marine science to get as much experience as you can while you’re an undergraduate student! Talk to your professors, see if they or any of their graduate students need help in the lab or with their field work. Even if your research is in a slightly different field, any experience you gain can be relevant for a future project in marine science, and building a good foundation of skills and working on a team is very helpful when pursuing marine science. Try not to let yourself be intimidated by the field of marine science—when I was younger I never thought I would pursue marine science because I didn’t think I fit the image in my head of a “scientist”. There are so many ways to be involved in marine science, from research to policy to scientific writing to outreach and education, so don’t stop yourself from trying before you even know what’s possible.
Kimberly and Stephanie after a successful hydrophone deployment off the westside of San Juan Island.
By Stephanie Reiss, Oceans Initiative Field Technician
A Chance Encounter with Dolphins
I was on vacation with my family in southern New Jersey staying in a beach house on the shores of the Atlantic ocean. Our back deck opened to the sea, overlooking the grassy dunes with the unmistakable fragrance of the salty ocean air and the sound of waves crashing on the cream-colored sand. My Nana was outside enjoying a sun-kissed afternoon when I heard her shout, “Dolphins! LOOK! There are dolphins!!” My eight-year-old heart suddenly jumped as if it were now at the edge of my throat, and uncontrollable excitement welled from the depths of my gut, leaving me near paralyzed. My head was light and dizzy, the inner voice was ringing, “DOLPHINS. Real, live, dolphins?!”
A moment or two passed before I was able break through the emotion and rush out onto the deck. Sure enough, out in the distance was a pod of common bottlenose dolphins, bounding in and out of the waves. I stood and watched in silence for as long as I could, the last porpoising merely a blip of grey in the sea of blue. For the rest of our stay, each day around that same time, I would stand on the deck, keeping vigilant watch and waiting for them to swim by again. Finally, on the last day, they graced us once more, frolicking just past the breakers as if they were putting on a show and knew we were watching. To me, this was my greatest delight yet, and the highlight of our trip.
My Quest Continued — My Questions Began
After that day, I would search for evidence of whales in any place I could, usually the movies, on TV, or in pictures on the internet. I absorbed as much as I could about this unique, diverse group of animals and I quickly became entranced. I watched a special on killer whale pods and the importance of family and I was awestruck by their social behavior. Where were they? What were they doing? Who knew about them? When could I see one? …were all the questions I was now compelled to answer.
The first killer whales I had ever laid eyes on were Southern Resident Killer Whales K35, Sonata and his mother K16, Opus. I watched from a research boat with my Marine Birds and Mammals college class as K35’s large dorsal breached the surface, and the blows of both whales saturated the air a few kilometers in the distance. My vision blurred as I peered through my binoculars at the magnificent creatures before me, and we shared life-giving breaths. The sheer elation of the moment had become mixed with a heaviness and disquiet. The whales were surrounded by boats filled with onlookers. I had learned about these threatened animals in my classes at the University of Washington and I found myself suddenly lost in a whirl of worry. The knowledge of their quandary laid thick on my mind. Were they finding anything to eat? Were there too many boats around them? Was I contributing to their struggle? From that moment on, the animals of J, K, and L pod, and their plight, had become indelibly tethered in my heart.
Fast-forward to today and I can hardly believe myself to be a scientist, let alone one who makes a living from learning about, observing, and protecting whales. My first project with Oceans Initiative was the Southern Resident Killer Whale field project, my literal dream job. There were many long hours and days-on-end in the summer sun, early wake-up calls to scan the Salish Sea, and countless numbers of PB and Js for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but nonetheless, my heart was content with the purpose I had found and the challenging job felt easy.
My Journey Through Doubt to Perseverance
Reaching this dream, believing I was deserving of it, and allowing myself to accept success however, has been far from easy. There is a common phenomenon among early-career scientists, which leads to insecurity, called, “imposter syndrome.” Unfortunately, it is one to which I am all too familiar. No amount of passion, drive, university courses, or papers read could have prepared me for that.
I grew up in a large family of seven, with three brothers and a sister. My parents always encouraged my siblings and me to study hard and pursue our passions through higher education. So, I took this seriously, accepted my fate as a “nerd,” and focused on my grades and academic goal. I also came to realize early on that for a woman, the path to a successful career in science was riddled with obstacles. However, I had many things going for me. I came from a family where both of my parents had professional degrees and my identity, nationality, and race did not place me at any significant disadvantage. Still, the fact remained, careers in science present considerably more challenges to women than men. Knowing this, I became even more determined that nothing was going to stop me.
I continued to study hard, maintain a good GPA, and push myself to engage in scientific activities. I graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and minor in Marine Biology, but I still felt incomplete. Then, one day my phone started blowing up with a number of different text messages from friends all containing the same thing—a job listing for new whale researchers. The position with Oceans Initiative had only been posted a few days earlier. I hadn’t yet seen it, but apparently many of my friends had. They all thought the same thing: “This was Steph’s dream job!”
More than a Blip of Grey in the Sea
I applied for the role of field technician at Oceans Initiative, quickly learning that I was one in a pool of hundreds of qualified applicants. I felt like one of those Jersey shore dolphins, as if I was just a blip of grey in a sea of blue. I fought back the urge to accept failure and withdraw before I had even entered the race. I was encouraged by those around me, declaring “you are perfect for this”; “you are so worthy of it!”.
The day came when I received the job offer in an email, amid the COVID-19 pandemic when all else felt dreary and lost, and I crumbled to the floor. I FaceTimed my entire family and before the words could even leave my lips, tears began to stream down my face. They screamed, cheered, laughed, and professed their belief in me over and over again. I felt that maybe I really was worthy.
For the longest time, I kept hearing that other inner voice reinforcing imposter syndrome and threatening to reveal to the world that I would never really be good enough with the resulting emotions being overwhelming. To this day, I occasionally hear that voice. Nevertheless, I continue to embrace that inner passion that I felt as a child seeing dolphins for the first time. I have found incredible purpose and resolve in the scientific pursuit and the amazing work we are doing at Oceans Initiative to protect marine wildlife.
Trust your Purpose and Let It Carry You Forward
As an early-career scientist, following my passion and the emotions that fuel it has been the most important thing. When the going gets tough, you must turn inward and allow yourself to feel and reflect on those emotions and to draw on whatever is burning deep inside that drives you. Whether it is a love for whales, a fascination with molecular genetics, a desire to make a difference in the world, let it carry you forward. You may still hear those voices inside that tell you that you are not good enough, or not really a scientist yet, or there is just not a place for you in the world of science and research; you can trust your purpose, unleash your passion, smile and enjoy the journey.
The truth is—and ladies, minorities, disadvantaged individuals this is for you—you are worthy of success in science. You CAN achieve your version of success. You WILL make a difference in this world. We need more scientists like you, and yes, you are a real, tried and true, scientist.
Thank you to Dr. Erin Ashe and Dr. Rob Williams, to my Oceans Initiative teammates and collaborators, to our incredible network of partners, to my limitlessly supportive friends and family, and to a chance encounter with a pod of dolphins so many years ago.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
An account from a field biologist turned statistician
By Marena Salerno Collins
It’s 5 a.m. and the sun has just started rising. We jump in the car with our coffees and mentally prepare ourselves for a full day on the cliff. A cooler of sandwiches, a fully charged computer, hats, sunscreen (reef safe, of course), our equipment, camp chairs, and a constantly buzzing VHF radio. We hear that the southern resident killer whales (SRKW) will be heading south past Lime Kiln and we are eager to catch them at our site just down from Landbank on the west side of San Juan Island in Washington State.
Fast forward 10 hours and, despite our best efforts to avoid it, we are sunburnt, thirsty and, for those of us who spent most of the day looking through binoculars, dealing with temporary blurred vision. There is a sense of accomplishment in the car on the way home after a full day like this one. We all feel some combination of tired, happy, curious, excited, and hungry. This was a good day in the field. It was full of mental challenges, problem-solving, pushing the boundaries of physical stamina and team accountability. It left me feeling drained but inspired, sleepy but full of life, and most importantly, spending the day with the SRKWs always motivates the marine conservationist in me.
Days in the field are days collecting the data, but what happens after you have the data? This is a question I asked myself almost daily when in the field. What will happen to each one of these data points? What impact can the project have without the analysis? As an organization, Oceans Initiative is expert in bridging this gap but so far, my part in analyzing data had been limited by my lack of quantitative education. It turns out that I wanted that education. I wanted to personally see the whole process through, from data collection, to analysis, and onto publication. This, along with the encouragement, support and advice from Oceans Initiative’s leadership team, is what led me to the graduate program I am currently in—a Statistical Ecology Master of Science at the University of St. Andrews. The University of St. Andrews, world-renowned for its marine science department and the home of the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM), is a mecca for some of the most influential people in conservation science.
Compared to the field days, my days as a graduate student are challenging and inspiring in drastically different ways. Instead of being on the side of number input (or data collection), I am now on the side of statistical output. If I put my data points in, use what is significant, leave out what isn’t, correct for bias, scale for accuracy, and model for the best representation, what is the output? For those of you with any sort of mathematical or statistics background, you will know that it is all about the three-component machine—input-process-output—or what we like to call the “algorithm of the analysis.” Learning about the intricacies of processing data has also helped me as a field biologist because now that I know how to use the data, it is clearer to me how we should be collecting it.
There are still days that I miss the field and I hope to work on more projects that include long hours in the sun with magnificent creatures. However, for now, I am inspired by the big picture of why, as scientists, we do what we do and the power of data, data analysis, and the endless potential in the field of ecological statistics.
While on the surface, our field may look like more fun than science, marine mammal science is a STEM discipline that requires years of experience and education to land and develop a career. Like other STEM fields, women continue to be underrepresented in senior career positions in the field of marine mammal science and conservation. Our STEM discipline has many hurdles that make it difficult for underrepresented people to access. In marine mammal science there is an observed “leaky pipe” phenomenon, in which the representation of women in early career positions is lost at the leadership level. Our discipline can involve a lot of fieldwork, representing time away from responsibilities at home. This is a cost that is unevenly available to marine mammal scientists of different socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, paid opportunities for well-educated individuals in marine mammal science are rare and competitive; opportunities are available only to those that can afford to gain the necessary experience to enter the field. It is not uncommon for young scientists in our field to take on multiple unpaid internships before gaining enough experience to get a full time position, even with a Bachelor’s degree.
Laurel Yruretagoyena, Biologist (left) capturing photographs of Pacific white-sided dolphin dorsal fins in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr Erin Ashe (right) for her long-term work on this population. Photo credit: Laura Bogaard
Oceans Initiative aims to provide women in marine mammal science the tools and resources necessary to support them as they conduct cutting-edge conservation research. We work to help women develop and become trained to use new technology. We also support them in communicating their findings in peer-reviewed publications, speaking engagements, and meeting with policy-makers. Many of our peers report changing careers or leaving academia because they sense competition, not collegiality in their workplace, and because their contributions are not being seen or lauded. We aim to elevate women by supporting our employees and fostering a sense of community and teamwork, not competition.
Oceans Initiative prioritizes hiring early career female scientists for paid positions to provide mentorship and to advance their skills. We hosted a Women in Marine Mammal Science Workshop at our professional society’s international conference in October 2017 and conducted a survey about gender equality in our field, to which over 600 members of the society responded. We have been working with a team of 6 female scientists to analyze the survey data and distribute our findings to a broader scientific audience in order to address the issue of inequality in our field.
Natalie Mastick, Graduate Fellow in Marine Parasite Ecology (left) and Laura Bogaard, Research Assistant (right) deploying a C-POD off San Juan Island during our study of Southern Resident killer whales in 2017. Photo credit: Aaron Henry
To continue our efforts to promote women and equality, Oceans Initiative will be hosting additional workshops to provide female scientists with tools to further their careers. Currently we are organizing a workshop in partnership with Alimosphere to teach female early-career scientists how to pilot unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for marine mammal science. We are also developing online tools to reach a broader audience of women and help them gain necessary experience in other research skills, like communicating with stakeholders and managers, publishing, statistics, and using our toolkits for their own research.
