Sunday, March 3, 2019

Sedna Sea Woman

Image may contain: swimming, ocean, water, outdoor and nature
This incredible image is courtesy of Waterproof Cruises & Expeditions and photographer and explorer Göran Ehlmé of Waterproof International. The small silver speckles in the water are herring fish scales!

About 7 months ago, I wrote a Facebook post that read:

"As I’ve recently begun to think more about my 'after college' plans, I’ve found myself intimidated and nervous about entering a career field that is mostly dominated by men. However, today I learned about the existence of Sedna Epic Expeditions, an all-female crew of ocean explorers dedicated to studying climate change and participating in cultural exchanges with communities in the Arctic. I cannot explain the excitement I feel right now, but I am overwhelmed with inspiration at the goals and accomplishments of this all-female team!"

I remember sitting in my cubicle at my summer internship, in tears after reading about Sedna for the first time. Some of you may know that as a young female studying science, I am always aware of the historical and present-day gender discrepancies in my field of study. To find a group of women I could look up to and imagine myself being in the future was inspiring, empowering, and completely life-changing.


I wanted to be like the women I was reading about so badly. I made a life plan: graduate from UC San Diego in 2020, get my Master's in Biological Oceanography from Scripps, Moss Landing, or Woods Hole, work for NOAA, get my SCUBA license, and then maybe I would be accomplished enough to join this group of amazing women in their mission.


I began emailing some of the women directly, telling them how inspiring their involvement in the all-female expedition was. 


As I was reading each of their bios, I noticed that one of the women--Cynthia Matzke--was an alumna at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a teacher at UC San Diego's Sally Ride Science Academy. 


I almost cried again when she responded to my email, agreeing to meet with me upon return from the Sedna expedition she was on that summer.


We connected, and she began mentoring me. In December, Cynthia informed me that Sedna was looking for more women to join the team for a November 2019 expedition to Norway, where they would be participating in leadership workshops, snorkeling with and filming Orca and Humpback whales feeding on herring, interacting with Saami women and girls, and conducting some scientific research in the process.



Winter snorkeling with Orcas and Humpbacks above the Arctic Circle in Norway. Video compliments of The 2014-2018 Sedna Epic Expedition's partner Waterproof Cruises & Expeditions.

I cried again when Cynthia encouraged me to apply. Joining Sedna was a life dream, not one I thought was tangible as an undergraduate student. To get the opportunity to simply apply was a huge deal to me.

A few months later, I am extremely honored and proud to announce that I am officially a Sedna Sea Woman and will be joining my role models on the Norway expedition this November!


As the youngest member of the Norway team, I have been gifted the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live with and learn from university professors, underwater videographers, scientists, explorers, artists, divers, and more as we explore Norwegian fjords together. We will be in frigid water with 50 ton whales, studying their feeding patterns and capturing video of their fragile beauty. Best of all, we will be building connections among ourselves and hopefully with Saami women, girls, and children as we unite to tackle issues regarding climate change together.


I not only feel honored, but also empowered to be a member of this team. I am grateful that I have been given this opportunity at such a young age, and I am eager to take in every bit of knowledge I can and run with it!


If you are interested in supporting the expedition and the SeaWomen of Sedna, I will be conveying more information to you in the coming months!


Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, offered me advice, and provided me with the opportunities to learn and serve that have gotten me to this point.


Until next time,

Em




Check out the Sedna Facebook Page
 for more information!