Celebrating Women Scientists dedicated to Aquaculture in the Caribbean
International day of girls and Women in Science
February 11th marks International day of Girls and Women in Science. A day to recognize the critical role that women play in science and technology. Unfortunately, Aquaculture scientists are often excluded from this celebration. To receive an education in Aquaculture Sciences, biology, zoology, chemistry, physics, math, environmental sciences, and fish veterinary medicine are just a few of the materials one has to study.
Although the majority of scientists conducting research in the field of aquaculture in the Caribbean are women, very few women from the Caribbean have been acknowledged for their work ( there are no statistics, but based on our network maybe 80% are women). This was a little-known fact until I started the Caribbean Aquaculture Network, through our online networking events I realized many women scientists are working in pockets and isolation around the Caribbean and the diaspora.
Last year 12 of us got together to create Women in Caribbean Aquaculture (WiCA)
WiCA was created to highlight the scientists in the Caribbean that are dedicated to the growth of Aquaculture in the region and to promote gender equality in this male dominated field. We want to create the opportunities and connections for women born in the Caribbean but we also aim to highlight those women who were not born in the Caribbean but have dedicated their research and work to the progress of Caribbean Aquaculture.
The contributions and research of Aquaculture scientists are rarely acknowledged as very important to the Caribbean. #WiCA aims to correct this oversight.Â
Amongst other goals, our scientists conduct research to
1. Obtain data (which there is not enough of) that is needed to make economic and societal decisions
2. Produce fish & seafood products contributing to food security for Caribbean islands.
3. Provide solutions for marine conservation through mariculture research
Please see the features of our scientists under the heading WiCA and on the website of FishSite.com
read more at the Fish Site.com
I hope that you will join us in celebrating the achievements of Caribbean women scientists by sharing our work and inspire the next generation of girls to pursue careers in the Aquaculture Sciences which is so needed in the Caribbean.Â
Aquaculture encompases every science making it an important sector of STEM Careers. #foodsecurity #marineconservation
#research #innovation #entrepreneurs
#WiCA was founded to highlight the backbone of Aquaculture research in the Caribbean. We aim to inspire girls from a young age to explore their interests in all aspects of aquaculture and its sub-sectors mariculture & aquaponics by providing them with role models and opportunities to engage in aquaculture sciences.
We aim to change the culture and mindset that surrounds Aquaculture Sciences in #Jamaica and the Caribbean.
There are more women scientists in Aquaculture than there are men in the Caribbean and I am excited that finally our women scientists are stepping into the light.
It has been such a wonderful year of meeting new scientists, collaboration and bringing our scientists together. I look forward to some amazing collaborations between scientists, institutions and islands in 2024.
