Marine Science Folks,
As my first year as MSI Director comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who has supported me and believed in my leadership — especially the MSI staff who have had to teach me everything but have shown patience and kindness the whole way. It has been a remarkable first year, to say the least. I have been so impressed by the work of our researchers, project scientists, faculty, postdocs, and students.
What’s more, I’ve been privileged to meet many of our donors and contributors, people whose financial support has been instrumental in keeping our work relevant, thriving, and innovative. Everyone’s deep dedication to our mission of revealing and relaying the wonders of our coasts and oceans inspires me every day.
Clearly, this year has also come with significant challenges. I doubt any of us predicted the intensity and variety of assaults on science and higher education that we have seen in the last few months. Yet, while the world of scientific research has been thrown into uncertainty, I am certain we can persevere when we work together. The MSI community is resilient, just like many of the ecosystems we study. For sure, we will face continued difficulties, but we must keep fighting for our values, conducting impactful marine science, and supporting those people and places who have less privilege and voice.
To demonstrate just how resilient and… well, just darn awesome… we are, from now on, I will highlight some of the scientists we host and support at MSI, starting with our early-career researchers. These stories are not just about their fundamental or solutions-based research but about the humans themselves — their visions, struggles, and heroic efforts to persevere no matter the challenges. In this first biopic, I chose an early-career scientist who represents, to me, the future of marine science, conservation, and advocacy: Dr. Anita Giraldo-Ospina (see link to her story below). One thing I think has led to many of the issues we face today is that we haven’t connected at a personal level to our own communities, haven’t engaged the public enough, worked with local knowledge holders, or communicated the human part of our scientific endeavors. Dr. Giraldo-Ospina, however, shows us a new way forward, and I hope you will see that her unusual path has led to a rich collection of knowledge, an impressively diverse skill set, and a genuine mission to work with communities — whether they are fishermen in Mexico or California legislators — to create science-based solutions to our increasingly worrisome ocean issues.
Again, thank you for a wonderful first year, and as always, I hope you will reach out to me if you have ideas, concerns, or just want to talk about the ocean and how we can facilitate doing the best and brightest science.
— Becky
EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHER PROFILE:
ANITA GIRALDO-OSPINA
Globetrotting scientist makes her mark on saving California’s kelp forests
As a child, Dr. Anita Giraldo-Ospina knew she was destined for a career in marine biology, and her atypical path to becoming a researcher at MSI is a story of globe-trotting, remarkable work ethic, mature self-reflection, and deep scientific talent.