A Collection of Personal Experiences by Black Women in Marine Science: An Interview with Rose Santana

Hello Rose, thank you so much for sharing your experience as a woman of colour in marine science with us. Please could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Rose Santana. I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Florida to study marine science four years ago. I recently graduated with my Bachelors in Marine Biology and Minors in Environmental Studies and Marine and Coastal Affairs. And I currently work as a Lab Manager at Florida International University before applying for Graduate School next year. 

My research focuses on metal contaminants in fish behaviour, primarily predator-prey interactions. I concentrate on sublethal effects, so I look at how contaminated fish react to predators and alter their behaviour to avoid predation. People tend to think if the dose doesn't kill, then it's not bad, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Contaminated organisms generally tend to live shorter periods and can eventually work their way up the food chain and on people's plates. Understanding the impact we have on the environment is critical in developing a plan to protect it. 

Did you grow up visiting/influenced by natural spaces and how involved with the marine environment were you growing up? If so, did you feel included?

I did! I was born on an island surrounded by water. My grandfather was a fisherman, and he took me out with him every Sunday. He taught me the importance of the ocean and how it sustains people's lives. When I was eight, I decided to be a marine biologist, but never saw anyone who looked like me in the field. As a child, it's a bit discouraging, but here I am 18 years later. There is still not a lot of representation in the field, but we are working on it, one minority at a time. I spent almost every day after school in the rocky shores or waiting for the tide to go down so I could see what I could find. Growing up, I always considered humans and the environment as one. We needed it, and it requires us to care. 

How did you get into marine biology?

I wanted to be a marine biologist before I even knew what it meant. I just knew I wanted to understand the ocean. Eventually, I ended up getting a degree in biotechnology and then coming back for a degree in Marine Biology. During this time, I was fortunate enough to get hired as an undergraduate research assistant at a lab and have been doing independent research for three years. During my time as an undergraduate, I was fortunate enough to get to do fieldwork in Puerto Rico, as well as the Canadian Arctic. Additionally, I have taken part in roughly ten conferences in Hawaii, Washington, D.C. and California. It solidified the fact that science is what I was meant to do. 

How has being a woman of colour in marine science affected you?

Tokenism. That has been my biggest issue. It sucks when you sometimes get the feeling that you are only included in something BECAUSE you are a woman of colour. Sometimes it felt like I was only included in specific projects so they could check off a box that they included a minority and the project was diverse, but never actually acknowledged any of my input. That in itself is even worse than not being included at all. I'm there, but I still don't matter, and on top of that, they profit from my presence. It's a bizarre feeling because you should be grateful for the opportunity, so you can't speak out. I've been lucky enough not to have ever experienced any blatant racism, but macroaggressions are LOUD. And believe me, I hear them. 

Do you know many women of colour in marine science? How has it affected you being in an industry that doesn't look like you? 

No. Luckily, I have met many wonderful women of colour in marine science through social media, but I don't know that many directly around me, which is sad. It's discouraging. If nobody looks like you, you don't feel like you belong. And it's lonely not having anybody understand the nuances of the field. 

What do you do to encourage diversity in marine science?

I try to use social media to diversify the field and talk about current issues. I started a chapter of Women in Marine Science at my University to partner students up with lab opportunities and network with their peers. And I participate in science nights at Elementary and Middle Schools, where I usually do small demos on my work in a way that kids can understand. I always figured if I can inspire them while they're young and if they see someone who looks like them, it will encourage them to pursue a career in marine science. Children are inherently curious about the world around them; all it takes is a little nudge. 

What would you most like to change in the industry?

This entire industry needs an overhaul. I would like to see more acknowledgement of minorities who help on projects and don't even get a mention. I would like to see undergraduate students getting more paid opportunities; free labour is an issue in this field. Especially underrepresented minorities who CAN'T afford to volunteer an entire summer and not get paid. But because they can't, they don't get relevant research experience which can hinder their growth in this profession. We need to do more to give students the resources to pursue this career.

And most importantly, I would like to see minorities (Black, Indigenous, Hispanic Asians) get the proper recognition they deserve. We aren't just tokens of diversity that you can include to make yourself look inclusive. We are brilliant scientists trying our hardest to contribute to a field we are passionate about. We aren't your poster children for diversity and shouldn't be treated as such.