OCEANOGRAPHIC: YASMINE, HOW HAS YOUR LOVE FOR THE OCEAN AND MARINE MICROBIOLOGY EMERGED?

YASMIN MEEDA: “What sometimes surprises people is that I didn’t grow up by the sea, and that I wasn’t the outdoorsy kid who spent hours exploring rock pools. I was actually the opposite – I didn’t swim in the sea much, I also never went camping. I grew up in a town near London, so the ocean was not part of my life during my younger years and therefore I wasn’t very emotionally connected to it. However, I did love watching nature documentaries and TV shows like Deadly 60. My love for the ocean and marine microbiology in particular developed during my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Brighton when I took a marine biology module and something just sparked happiness. I found it incredibly fascinating how so much of the ocean was unexplored and thought I could become an explorer. During my undergrad, I also studied a wide range of subjects, including microbiology, immunology, ecology and even forensic biology. What I quickly came to realise was that you can love all aspects of biology and tie them together in the field of marine biology as it is such a broad field. It also dawned on me that there were others like me who didn’t feel an inherent connection to the ocean but I knew we needed to find the connection. Marine molecular biology was a way I could stay on dry land but connect with the complexity of the ocean, marine biology and conservation.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW DID YOU END UP IN OCEAN SCIENCES IF THAT WASN’T REALLY WHAT YOU WANTED?

YASMIN MEEDA: “After completing my undergraduate degree in biological sciences, I knew I had a love for the ocean, but I wasn’t sure that I belonged in the field of ocean science. I felt that I did not fit the stereotypical image of a marine biologist as I couldn’t scuba dive, I don’t like jumping in cold water for fun and the idea of spending months at sea wasn’t exactly the dream for me. So, after my undergraduate degree, I stepped away from marine biology and became a data analyst and unsurprisingly I didn’t enjoy it at all – I only lasted one year in the job.

After this, I decided that I wanted to get back into science, specifically marine biology. I decided to leave my job and go travelling for a couple of months, which was an incredible experience. I also experienced three weeks of turtle conservation in the Perhentian Islands, Malaysia where I got to help track, ID and release turtles. I got accepted into the University of Plymouth to study a Master of Research in marine biology and have been working in the field ever since. This degree is where I really explored the world of marine molecular biology, specifically microbiology. From that point on, I’ve never looked back… although I do wish I could go out on tropical reefs from time to time.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: MARINE MICROBIOLOGY SEEMS LIKE A REALLY ABSTRACT TERM – WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL EXACTLY?

YASMIN MEEDA: “When most people hear ‘marine biology, they think of sharks, whales, dolphins or tropical coral reefs. But marine biology is so much broader than that, and just like terrestrial biology covers everything from doctors, ecologists, immunologists and virologists, marine science includes everything from the microscopic life to the large marine animals that are portrayed in the media. As a marine microbiologist, I study a group of phytoplankton called diatoms, which are a type of microalgae. These are tiny, microscopic plant-like organisms that are crucial for life on Earth as they produce about every fifth breath of oxygen we take. The ocean is full of microscopic life including bacteria, fungi, viruses and archaea, which all work together to maintain marine ecosystems. My PhD research specifically focused on understanding how diatoms can sense and respond to changes in the ocean. Marine microbes can help us to understand carbon cycling, climate change and ocean health.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHEN IT COMES TO MARINE MICROBIOLOGY, HOW HAVE YOU FARED AS A WOMAN IN THE FIELD?

YASMIN MEEDA: “I have been fortunate as I haven’t really faced overt challenges or discrimination in my career as a woman or a woman of colour. However, my background has definitely shaped my journey in ways some people in this field may not relate to. The challenges I faced were more to do with coming from a lower-income, single-parent household. Marine biology is often associated with a lot of unpaid internships or volunteer roles to gain experience. This can be a huge barrier for those who do not have the financial freedom to work for free and it was not an option for me. Since the age of 15, I have worked part-time through my studies, whether it was during school, university or even during my PhD to pay my way. On top of financial barriers, my schooling education was not the best; I didn’t have access to tutors and my grades slipped. I also didn’t have any role models who were women or who looked like me in a position that I could look up to. Some academics have joked about my ability to do good science because of my fake nails or that I come to the lab in a dress and look like I must be going out somewhere nice. Instead, I have learned to ignore these comments as I know that I have worked hard and I am capable of doing my job well. These experiences have helped shape my career as I have become passionate about teaching in ways that people understand, mentorship and maintaining and providing a safe, diverse and inclusive environment for others to flourish in. I want to help create a pathway that showcases that science, especially marine biology, is for everyone, despite any challenges they face.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN YOUR INDUSTRY?

YASMIN MEEDA: “Marine biology has made progress in terms of gender diversity, especially from my experiences. When I did my Master’s degree and during my PhD, there were more women at my level than men. However, it was noticeable that at professorship level, the number of women had declined. I don’t have a straight answer as to why this might be, but it could be due to caregiving responsibilities, differences in the gender pay gap or a general lack of confidence that women give off when applying to higher positions such as a professorship. Academia is already extremely competitive, but you sometimes have to work extra hard to be taken seriously. By addressing these issues, I believe that it will enable and encourage more women to step into leadership positions in marine science.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE ANYONE WANTING TO BECOME A MARINE BIOLOGIST? 

YASMIN MEEDA: “I’d always say that if you have a strong passion for marine science then definitely go for it. Like most things these days, it can be a competitive field to break into. If you’re really keen on working in a specific area I would encourage girls to seek mentors and broaden their network. Sometimes positions might not get advertised widely, so it does help if you know about a specific lab group or organisation that will run projects that you are interested in. Also, I think having a supportive community is essential, especially those with a diverse perspective that could help you. I would highly recommend joining Women in Ocean Science – it’s an incredible community of women in the field. I also think it’s important to believe in yourself. When I started out I really suffered from imposter syndrome as I don’t know everything… I still don’t and that is OK!” 

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT RESEARCH ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON? 

YASMIN MEEDA: “I recently completed a PhD at the University of Exeter and the Marine Biological Association in the UK where my research focus was on understanding how a type of microalgae (diatoms) can sense and respond to changes in the environment. I specifically looked at how nutrients, such as phosphorus can enter the marine environment through agricultural runoff and cause algal blooms, which can be extremely damaging to aquatic life. I was keen on understanding the pathways responsible for the detection of a change in the environment and how diatoms can change their ‘behaviour’. Since then, I’ve started a new role in research where I’m working on removing excess phosphorus from drinking and wastewater systems so that we avoid the runoff into the ocean. This is important because marine life needs phosphorus for survival, yet, too much of it can be detrimental.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: TALK US THROUGH YOUR MOST MEMORABLE OCEAN MOMENT AND PROUDEST WORK ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE.

YASMIN MEEDA: “I am a UK ambassador for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as I post about my research on social media. One of my most memorable experiences was when I got the chance to go out on a sardine fishing boat in Newlyn in Cornwall with the MSC. This was the first time I’ve ever been fishing, and I had the chance to learn about the sustainable practices that were used in sardine fishing. While I was at sea, it was relatively calm, the sky was clear and I got to see the milky way. But the most incredible part of the trip was that I saw birds literally glowing green and I realised it was bioluminescence. I always knew that it was a phenomenon that happens, but it was the first time I saw it and it was so incredible. It reminded me why I love studying biology and the natural world because it’s truly unique.

When it comes to my proudest work achievement, it has to be going from failing my A-level exams to completing my PhD. At the time, after failing my A-levels, I felt helpless, confused and unsure of where I wanted to be in the future. I was confused as to why I couldn’t sit the exams and get good grades; something about remembering key words to include in the answers threw me off. Now I look back at this, it taught me resilience and perseverance which are traits essential to getting through a research degree. When conducting a PhD, you often come across failure, whether it’s in the application of a PhD or experiments. Whenever this happens, I can take a step back to realise that I have been through failure before and I can work through it. All of this has been part of my journey to becoming a marine biologist and I’m glad I experienced it the way I did as this has taught me so many important lessons for the future.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW CAN OCEAN SCIENCES BECOME MORE DIVERSE?

YASMIN MEEDA: “I believe that one of the major barriers to diversity in ocean sciences is the expectation that students and early-career researchers must take on unpaid internships to gain essential skills needed to further their career. This often means that these opportunities are only available to those who can afford to work for free and do not have other responsibilities like care. This excludes incredible talented and diverse minds who would be an asset to ocean science to help the field progress. To do this, more funding needs to be allocated to those working in this area for paid internships, accessible training programmes, access to networking events and to pay people for their time if they are helping to promote a cause for conservation. Often you are expected to give your expertise for the greater good without any real compensation for your time.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: HOW HAS YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH WOMEN IN OCEAN SCIENCES SUPPORTED YOU AND YOUR CAREER?

YASMIN MEEDA: “Being part of Women in Ocean Science means that you get to find support from fellow women who share a similar interest. It has enabled me to meet – whether online or in person – other women who have gone through a similar process to me, who care about the ocean just as much, if not more than I do and to find inspiration! I’ve got to learn about so many passion projects and connect on a deeper level to understand why community driven approaches are so helpful to work on ocean conservation together. Women in Ocean Science is extremely important to me as it reminds me that I am not alone in this journey. I’ve found my support network who are always happy to help me when needed. This has allowed me to gain new professional connections and also friendships.”

OCEANOGRAPHIC: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU – AND YOUR CAREER?

YASMIN MEEDA: “As a lab marine biologist I don’t get to go on any fun lab expeditions but that’s the beauty in the diversity of marine biology. I know that I get to help protect and clean up the ocean with my work in the lab. This year I am continuing my work as a research fellow at Cranfield University where I can expand my research to tackle real world issues of pollution. I hope to continue disseminating ocean stories and science communication across social media and I cant wait to see what else comes from this journey.”

Learn more about Women in Ocean Science here or in our exclusive Women in Ocean Science column which was launched to celebrate International Women’s Day.