By Bonnie Brown, Monterey Bay SWMS
Monterey Bay is a unique location found on the central coast of California. This area is known for its abundant marine life and diverse habitats. Just a short boat ride out from the shallow and murky Elkhorn Slough and you’ll find yourself at the head of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. The rich kelp forests are filled with all sorts of creatures and make for world-renowned dive sites. Not only is Monterey Bay a hotspot for marine life, but it is also a hub for numerous marine science institutions. As a graduate student at Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML), I am very fortunate to live in such an extraordinary place.
Students that enter the MLML program work towards a Masters of Science in Marine Science, focusing on a variety of biological and oceanographic disciplines. Once upon a time, MLML was a male-dominated school. The student body was comprised of around 80% men. Now, women represent that 80%, yet the faculty is only 20% female. When an e-mail popped into our inbox about the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS), several of us MLML students were excited to create a chapter for the Monterey Bay area. Specifically, we wanted to address the obstacles and stereotypes that female scientists face.
The Monterey Bay SWMS Chapter would like to create a welcoming community where everyone can work together to increase visibility of women and other under-represented groups in marine science. Our mission is to facilitate outreach to local schools, promote opportunities for mentorship, and to acknowledge and address the challenges women face in marine science.
Thinking back to my younger years, I wish that I had a mentor in the marine science field to help guide me. Wouldn’t it have been nice if I had the resources readily available to pursue marine science starting at an early age? Providing that type of mentorship to local students, and creating networking opportunities to early career scientists are extremely valuable components that I look forward to see flourish with the Monterey Bay SWMS Chapter.