Camille Gaynus, Ph.D. '19

A SCUBA diving experience in Indonesia changed the course of Camille Gaynus', Ph.D. '19, life and has led to the formation of a nonprofit dedicated to lifting up Black voices in marine science and inspiring a new generation to follow their curiosity about the ocean.

Gaynus is a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Biology and was featured in a story, "Black in Marine Science is building a community," on the university's website.

“We wanted to show that being Black in marine science is something positive, while also letting our peers know that we do these things, that for us it’s normal to be Black people in the ocean," Gaynus says. "When you look at the top destinations for marine science, they’re in regions where there is not a lot of diversity. We want a place where Black marine science can thrive, where people of color can feel comfortable and truly be their full selves.”

Their first major endeavor has been launching two YouTube series. One is “BIMS Bites,” which targets young people with kid-friendly, five-minute explanations of different ocean science topics. The other is “BIMS DIVES,” offering more in-depth conversations among a panel of marine scientists covering timely topics related to the marine world.

Read the full story here.