In honor of Women’s History Month, a conversation with the ecologist and diversity advocate Dr. Tiara Moore
Dr. Tiara Moore is on a mission to understand and protect biodiversity in marine ecosystems while advocating for diversity in the fields that study them. Her titles include: environmental ecologist, diversity influencer, truth teller, podcast co-host, founder of A WOC Space, an organization creating safe places for Women of Color, and most recently, founder of Black In Marine Science. Tiara’s international research has focused on water quality, biogeochemistry, the microbiome and coral reefs. With a single soil sample and environmental DNA (eDNA), she can assess the biodiversity of an entire ecosystem. With a single tweet, she can launch a global initiative.
In 2020, Tiara laid the foundations for #BlackInMarineScienceWeek when she saw the Black birding community’s Twitter response to a racist incident in Central Park and initiated a similar conversation among Black scientists in ocean careers. The digital event is now an organization dedicated to celebrating Black excellence in the marine sciences and inspiring a new generation of ocean leaders through educational content and storytelling.
In February, we teamed up with Tiara to profile the game-changing contributions of five Black leaders who shaped our understanding of the oceans. In honor of Women’s History, we’re turning the spotlight on her. Below, Tiara shares what motivates her to protect the oceans and champion change.
“You're either riding the wave or getting washed up, because the time for racial and ocean justice is now.”
– Dr. Tiara Moore
Q & A
Why do you love the oceans?
The ocean is the only place I feel free. Under the water or on a boat the ocean is a majestic place filled with so many aspects to explore. The ocean literally connects the world and it's incredible to think about the impacts it has on human life, and how human life is impacted by it.
What inspired your career in environmental ecology and marine science?
A research trip to Costa Rica in undergrad. I started pre-med and didn't like it so I decided to explore other areas of Biology and signed up for a tropical ecology course purely for the trip to Costa Rica. The week turned out better than I imagined, I was on a boat collecting water samples and doing mini experiments, I was sold. I decided I would make it my career.
How did the first Black in Marine Science Week come to be?
2020 was a year of civil unrest with racial injustices at its forefront. Last summer, we saw a Black birder threatened simply for trying to bird in Central Park. Sharing eerily similar experiences, a group of Black birders founded #BlackBirdersWeek. Aiming to dispel the myth that Black birders don’t exist, the conversation took social media by storm and other STEM disciplines started their own virtual movements.
When I sent out a tweet with the call for #BlackInMarineScienceWeek, organizers quickly responded and developed a committee. The online event ran from November 29-Dec 5, 2020 and made a huge impact globally. With over 1 million social media engagements, hundreds of participants, 50 panelists, 35 sponsors, and 14 organizers, it turned out better than what was ever expected and laid the foundation for the organization I lead today.
What drives you to keep BIMS going - what’s the goal?
I'm doing this work because I was tired of being the only Black person in the room and tired of people asking me if I could swim once they find out I’m a marine scientist. The goal of BIMS is to celebrate Black marine scientists, spread environmental awareness and inspire the next generation of scientific thought leaders.
What kind of future do you hope to create through your research and your work? In other words, what is your personal mission statement?
I hope to create a future where I can simply be a scientist. I'm inspired and honored to do the work for BIMS, but it wouldn't be necessary if we didn't have a history of systemic racism that prevents Black people from being in marine science in the first place, causes people to assume I can't swim because I'm Black and further makes them assume I couldn't possibly be a marine scientist or scientist at all. I want to create a culture that focuses on ocean and environmental justice and welcomes everyone in this mission because we should all be together fighting against climate change, not racism. So my mission statement is, you're either riding the wave or getting washed up, because the time for racial and ocean justice is now.
What changes do you want to see in the environmental cause, and more specifically, in the movement to explore, understand and protect the oceans?
Diversity in the scientists doing the work, focused attention on science communication and community science, funding specifically and in perpetuity for ocean justice research. Policies like 30x30 make me smile.
Who is your feminist climate hero?
Definitely Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. She is a Black woman who speaks truth to power about what we need for climate and ocean justice. I am so proud to stand in her footsteps.
What is your favorite ocean fact?
Ha, since everyone was just so hype about Mars! I love sharing that we know more about space than the ocean, There's about 80% still waiting to be explored, but we spend more money on space research vs 71% of the earth...whyyyyy?!
If you had to choose, which is your favorite sea creature?
Man, this is hard because I honestly don't have one. My favorite aquatic animal is the axolotl though, such a cute little thing but they are found in lakes!
