Our Team
Youth Voices for the Ocean was born out of a deep love for the ocean and a desire to amplify young people's voices in shaping ocean futures. Our team members are driven by a shared commitment to explore how best young people can be engaged in ocean decision-making. Combining our skills and passion, we strive to create a sustainable future for our ocean for future generations.
Project lead: Julia steel
I'm Julia, a marine social scientist passionate about issues related to inclusion in the pursuit of a sustainable ocean! I have a background in ecology and environmental sciences (BSc) and marine science and policy (MSc) from the University of Edinburgh. I am now working as a PhD student on the Youth Voices for Nature project. My passion for youth activism began during the Friday Strikes for Climate in Edinburgh, where I felt firsthand the injustice against future generations who are unable to meaningfully challenge the behaviours of current leaders and avoid the consequences of their decisions. I believe that empowering youth in ocean governance processes is essential for ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the ocean for future generations.
Meet our team: Co-researchers
co-researcher: Emma lowe
Hello! My name is Emma. I’m a second-year PhD student living in Edinburgh. Since starting my marine biology journey, I have been taking part in citizen science and developing methods, it quite fitting that my PhD is all about marine citizen science. I have joined the project as I believe developing different approaches to learning about how humans interact with the natural world will help us understand all the voice around the table. Traditional stakeholder engagement methods are not inclusive, especially to younger people. Having experienced my voice being minimised due to my age or lack of experience in the past I know how daunting it can be to speak out. I have joined this this co-research project to become a better marine advocate as well as join a community of like-minded people who want to contribute towards improving our future.
co-researcher: Jonathan Mcmillan
My name is Jonny and I am a ranger working for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the Cairngorms National Park and a member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Young Leader Network. I have always had a strong connection to the ocean and enjoyed exploring and learning through both recreation and study. I have an MSc in environment, culture, and society at the University of Edinburgh, it was here where I explored ocean restoration as a method for community empowerment. My interest in youth engagement in ocean decision-making took off when I had a job as a marine educator, and I got to see firsthand how exciting the ocean can be as a teacher and how it inspires people of all ages. I joined this project to understand how co-research can be used to answer research problems and explore how the youth can be empowered in ocean decision-making.
co-researcher: ANNA HUGHES
I'm Anna, a marine environmental outdoor educator and volunteer coordinator. I studied Biology (BSc) at the University of Bristol, and then Marine Systems and Policies (MSc) at the University of Edinburgh. I'm fascinated by reef ecosystems (especially oysters!) and the community values surrounding them. I'm currently working on volunteering and citizen science projects, trying to make sure as many people as possible can get involved in collecting meaningful data about their ocean and coastline. I joined this project hoping to better understand co-research and have the opportunity to learn alongside some fellow ocean advocates.
CO-RESEARCHER: LILINA
My name is Lillina. I am a biogeochemical oceanographer and postgraduate student based at the Southern Ocean Carbon-Climate Observatory in Cape Town, South Africa. I completed my undergraduate in Biological Sciences (Rhodes University), my MSc in Oceanography (University of Cape Town) and am starting my PhD in Oceanography (University of Cape Town). My MSc research looked at the photophysiology of Southern Ocean Phytoplankton. I am very passionate about the ocean, climate justice, science communication and research, with a very specific love for polar oceans. I believe that youth involvement is critical if we are to make a meaningful impact in the conservation of ocean ecosystems. I joined this project because I am excited to see how co-research will unfold, to learn more about ocean advocacy and to hopefully start being a part of ocean decision making.
co-researcher: KYLA
My name is Kyla, I am a graduate of the Environmental Protection and Management Masters program at the University of Edinburgh where I completed a thesis studying tourism conservation on tropical corals in Fiji. This program solidified my desire to work in marine science and continue expanding my knowledge. I am elated to be part of this project, as an avid advocate for ocean conservation this project speaks deeply to my passion in marine science. I joined this project as I hope to continue onto a PhD in marine conservation and this offers the opportunity to understand influences of decision-making in science and how I can be an active member in this process. As an individual growing up around an island I have been surrounded by marine and oceanic life, I have witnessed how the world is changing and the need we have to protect our oceans. It is my goal to continue this work and assist in global efforts to protect this ecosystem everyday. This project is a gateway to working towards this goal and I am excited to participate.
CO-RESEARCHER: Siana Garrido-Mirapeix
Siana Garrido-Mirapeix is currently an MPhil Southern Urbanism candidate at the University of Cape Town, and an intern at Our Future Cities in Cape Town as well. She has spent most of her life growing up near the Indian Ocean, and cares deeply for environmental sustainability and social justice. Joining this project is a way for her to deepen her knowledge, meet passionate likeminded people, and advocate for the voices of our youth to be heard in decision-making processes.
co-researcher:Luisa-Marie Dickenmann
My name is Luisa and I will start a Master's in Environmental Protection and Management at Edinburgh University in September. I care about getting all kinds of voices involved in making decisions about our coastlines and oceans. Lack of experience can be a good thing as it brings new ideas, optimistic approaches and less restraint by "how things are usually done". And as young people will one day be the leaders of research, policy and communities, it only makes sense to start working collaboratively and constructively now. I am part of this project because I want to share my views and be influenced by those of others to create something of value for those who live by and with the ocean.
co-researcher:Luisa-Marie Dickenmann
Hi I’m Erin, I recently completed a Masters in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health at the University of Edinburgh for which I’m currently waiting on my final results. Following my graduation this winter I’m hoping to find a PhD related to wildlife conservation up in Scotland!
Picture is of me doing some sea turtle conservation in Cyprus last year!
Supervisors
dr karen alexander
Dr Karen Alexander is an Associate Professor in Marine Governance and Blue Economy with wide-ranging interests, centring on environmental stewardship and ocean and coastal conflict. She specialises in issues around the transition to a green (blue) economy and how such developments impact coastal communities. She is also interested in how we manage the marine environment, particularly through processes such as ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning. In all of these areas, marginalised voices in decision-making remains an issue. Karen believes that the inclusion of youth voice is particularly important because it can empower the young people that will be managing and making decisions about our oceans in the future whilst at the same time making current decision-making more inclusive and representative.
Prof sandy kerr
DR CHRIS LEAKEY
Following higher education in ecology, Chris Leakey has had a career mostly in public sector nature conservation, from nature reserve management to environmental assessment for development control, fisheries management, and planning policy and strategy. A temporary career move provided a grounding in social and interdisciplinary sciences, with interests in ocean literacy, behavioural change, participatory governance and more. This cemented his acceptance that environmental problems are almost always ‘people-problems’ and that solutions must therefore also be centred on people – hence an ongoing enthusiasm for the social sciences. This now percolates his current role in NatureScot, leading work on marine planning, natural capital, and source-to-sea connectivity. He also co-authored Insights and recommendations for involving young people in decision making for the marine environment, a piece of research that helped inspire the formation of Young Sea Changers Scotland (for which he is now on the Advisory Panel).
DR BERNADETTE SNOW
Contact Us Today
Reach out to us for any inquiries or to join our team!
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