Join Us for a FREE Virtual Panel on Women in Marine Science!
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025, we’re excited to host a free, live virtual panel featuring inspiring women in the marine science field. This event offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with female leaders who are shaping the future of marine science, hear their stories, and discover the exciting career paths in STEM.
Join us for this interactive session, where we’ll:
Introduce each guest and their role in marine science.
Show exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of our guests in action.
Discuss their career journeys, including:
How they entered the marine science field
What qualifications and training they needed
Their favorite part of their job and proudest career moments
Their role models and why they believe more females are needed in STEM
The career advice they’d give to their younger selves
Take questions from the audience—students can send in questions ahead of time or ask live during the session.
Whether your class is interested in marine biology, conservation or science communication this session will showcase the diverse and exciting roles within the marine science field while emphasizing the importance of diversity in STEM careers.
Meet Our Panelists:
We are thrilled to be joined by influential women and leaders in marine science. Our confirmed guests include:
Name: Nicola Bridge
Job Title: Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement
My Name is Nicola, and I am Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement at the Ocean Conservation trust. I have just always, always been drawn to the sea and have wanted to take care of it, as well as encourage others to think about their relationship with the Ocean too.
As a conservation biologist I am passionate about changing the narrative about what constitutes conservation. Everyone on the planet is responsible for the health of the natural world that sustains us, protecting habitats and species in many cases is just a question of human behaviour.
My current role as Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement allows me to use my 15 years’ of experience in the field of conservation, environmental education and ocean literacy to: – Develop and evaluate the formal and informal conservation learning programmes for the Trust. ( The programme is delivered across the UK and at the National Marine Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth, with an audience of hundreds of thousands of people, both physically and virtually). – Drive the Marketing and Communications strategy for both the OCT and NMA.
Additionally, I am the president of EMSEA, an organisation that has a mission to act as a hub for the European marine education community, promoting Ocean literacy across society and working with scientists, teachers, policy makers and the public.
My name is Emma Whittle, and I have always been passionate about marine life. This passion led me to pursue a career in the field, where I’ve been fortunate enough to gain a diverse range of experiences.
I studied Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, where I had the opportunity to volunteer as a diver at the Aquarium. Additionally, I worked with the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, honing my research and hands-on animal care skills. These experiences gave me a solid foundation in animal care and marine biology, which I’ve continued to build on throughout my career.
After graduating in 2012, I completed a 4-month unpaid internship at Sea Life London Aquarium. This role allowed me to deepen my knowledge of aquarium operations, animal husbandry, and guest experiences. Since then, I’ve worked at various aquariums across the UK, where I gained valuable experience in animal care, exhibit maintenance, and team leadership. In 2017, I moved back to Plymouth and joined the Husbandry team.
My name is Mim, and I work with the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) as part of the Blue Meadows team, focusing on cultivating, restoring, and protecting seagrass beds.
I grew up in Lewes, a small town near Brighton. From the age of 11, my family and I would head to North Cornwall every year for our annual surfing holiday, which kept me connected to the ocean most of my life.
At 20, I began five years of mission work with street children and refugees, spending time in Sierra Leone, Turkey, Greece, London, and various parts of the United States. These experiences shaped my perspective and strengthened my desire to make a difference. At 25, I decided to focus on marine conservation, earning a degree in Ocean Science and Marine Conservation and a Master’s in Sustainable Aquaculture from Plymouth University between 2017 and 2023.
Since completing my studies, I’ve worked as a freelance diver and deckhand. Today, I’m proud to contribute to OCT’s Blue Meadows project, where I apply the skills I developed at university. My work involves diving surveys, maintaining aquaculture facilities, conducting research, collecting physical data, and supporting fieldwork operations. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a mission that aligns so closely with my passion for protecting our Ocean.
