Black In Marine Science, Non-Profit Organization

Demistifying the power of AI and data science with Dr Craig Poku #Bluetech #BIMSweek Ocean Justice AI Datasparq Black In Marine Science, Non-Profit Organization

🌊𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐁𝐈𝐌𝐒) 2024 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 🌊 Two weeks ago, I had the chance to attend the Black In Marine Science, Non-Profit Organization(BIMS) 2024 Conference at the beautiful Paradise Point Resort in San Diego. It was an inspiring event that brought together passionate marine scientists, leaders, and change-makers to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our oceans today. Grateful for the support of the UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience in making this happen. As a Fellow in the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science & Policy Program, there was no better time to be part of this. 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐌𝐘 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 📖 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒚 -One session that stood out to me explored the Importance of 𝑶𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒚 a Tool for Knowledge Exchange. It highlighted how tools like social media can amplify awareness and inspire action within our communities—a conversation that felt especially relevant to my work in storytelling and conservation. This was led by Frank Mirobo and Makeda Warner, who did an excellent job sharing their experiences and the power of social media 🎤 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 -I was equally inspired by keynote speakers like Dawn Wright, PhD, who challenged us to embrace the unthinkable in our quest to protect our oceans. Her words, "𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓; 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏," were a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to steward our planet. 🎙️ 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 -I had the honor of participating in a panel on “Disseminating eDNA Results to the Masses,” where we explored innovative ways to make science accessible to policymakers and communities. As someone passionate about using storytelling to drive climate resilience, the insights shared reaffirmed the importance of innovative approaches to reach policymakers and communities alike. My fellow panelists, Dr. Stanton Belford, Trinity Goppy, Andria Miller, Dr. Tiara Moore, Andreah Pierre, and Coach Bilal Bahar, IDIS brought diverse experiences and voices to the discussion. 💆♂️ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 -Beyond the sessions, the conference also emphasized the value of self-care in research. Wellness activities reminded us that recharging our minds and bodies is important for sustained creativity and impact. 🛳️ 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 -A visit to the research vessel Sally Ride at Scripps Institution of Oceanography offered a firsthand look at how cutting-edge data collection informs our understanding of ocean health. Here’s to making waves for a sustainable future! 🌊✨ #MarineScience #BIMS2024 #OceanConservation #StorytellingForChange #ClimateResilience #ScienceCommunication

🌊✨ Good news for the ocean! ✨🌍 President Biden has now conserved over 670 million acres of lands and waters—the most by any U.S. president in history! This includes 625 million acres of ocean along the East Coast, Pacific Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Northern Bering Sea, all protected from future oil and gas leasing. 🛡️💧 These actions prioritize coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies like fishing and tourism over the risks of offshore drilling. It’s a win for the environment, public health, and Indigenous communities who’ve stewarded these waters for generations. 🌱 Let’s celebrate this huge step toward healthier oceans and a sustainable future! 💙 #OceanConservation #ForTheOcean #ProtectOurOceans #BlackinMarineScience https://lnkd.in/g43k54jH

What if we used AI for good? Check out Ocean Justice AI today! www.oceanjustice.ai Black In Marine Science, Non-Profit Organization #OceanJusticeAI #BIMS #OceanJustice #AIForTheStreetz #BIMSInstitute

🌊🦪 Let’s talk artificial oyster reefs! Specifically, the innovative use of oyster baskets in the Chesapeake Bay to restore these vital ecosystems. 💡 These reefs are very important for supporting marine life ✨ Want to dive deeper into this topic? Head over to BIMS TV on YouTube and check out our latest series all about oysters! 🐚📺 Subscribe now and join the conversation about how these organisms are making a BIG impact. 💪🏾💙 https://lnkd.in/gdnKe6sz

🌊✨ BIMS Week was nothing short of PHENOMENAL! From inspiring talks that fueled our passion for the ocean to interactive workshops that kept us on our toes, every moment was a vibe. 💡🎉 And let's not forget the litty hours where we laughed, danced, and connected, and those unforgettable field trips that brought science and nature together in the best way possible. 🌍💙 What was your favorite thing about #BIMSWeek last year? The talks? The workshops? The vibes? Drop your favorite moments below! ⬇️💬 🐟🐚 #BlackInMarineScience #BIMS #MarineScience #FortheOcean

🌊 Ocean Justice AI is LIVE! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/g8pgp3Xb We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Ocean Justice AI, the revolutionary platform from the BIMS Institute. 💡 Leveraging advanced AI technology, it transforms complex data into clear, actionable insights, empowering you to: 🌍 Pinpoint climate change issues 🤝 Advocate for ocean & environmental justice ♻️ Champion sustainability and equality ✨ Drive real-world change Be among the first to explore this groundbreaking tool—beta users wanted! 🔗 Link in bio to sign up and make a difference today. Together, let’s create healthier oceans and more equitable communities. 💙 #OceanJusticeAI #ForTheOcean #BIMSInstitute #BlackInMarineScience

🌊 The beta launch of Ocean Justice AI is happening this week! 🚀 Here’s what Ocean Justice AI brings to the table: 🌐 Interactive Knowledge Mapping – Dive into visually connected insights on complex environmental topics. 🌍 Geospatial Dashboards – Explore patterns, track changes, and uncover hotspots in environmental data. 🤝 Social Impact Network – Collaborate, create movements, and connect with activists worldwide to drive real change. Your feedback matters! 🌟 Be part of shaping this groundbreaking tool by joining our beta testing phase. 👉 Connect with others in the Ocean Justice AI chat group and help us build a brighter future for our oceans and communities. 📲 Learn more and get involved at OceanJustice.AI ! Together, let’s create healthier oceans and more equitable coastal communities. 🌍💙 #OceanJusticeAI #ForTheOcean #BIMSInstitute #BlackInMarineScience #MarineScience

🌊✨2025 is coming soon, here are some sustainable New Year’s resolution ideas for the Ocean ✨🌍 This year, let’s commit to protecting our oceans with small but impactful actions: ♻️ Reduce Single-Use Plastics 🐟 Support Sustainable Seafood 🌱 Reduce Your Carbon Footprint 📚 Educate Yourself & Others And of course, ride the wave with BIMS as we make 2025 a year of ocean advocacy and action! 💙🐠 www.bims.org/donate #ForTheOcean #MarineScience #OceanScience #BlackInMarineScience

✨ Introducing Joyful Leader, the newest program under the BIMS Institute! 🌊💙 This initiative is all about empowering leaders to prioritize joy, wellness, and balance while making waves in marine science and beyond. And guess what? Our Joy Journal is launching in January 2025! 📓✨ It's designed to help you reflect, recharge, and lead with intention every day. Stay tuned for more details—we can’t wait to share this journey with you! 🌟 #JoyfulLeader #BIMSInstitute #ForTheOcean #BlackinMarineScience