“It takes a village” often refers to the community effort it takes to raise a child. In my experience, this expression applies to more than child rearing. It takes a village to support each other, to lift each other up, and to address issues that threaten our ways of life. In my case, it also took a village to put together a science panel series as part of my internship project with NOAA Fisheries.
As a part-time master’s student, full-time employee, and professional freelancer, my degree and path could not have been accomplished without the supportive community that surrounds me. As my journey at NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center comes to an end, I would like to express my deep gratitude to those who helped bring my internship project to fruition these past 6 months.
My internship goal was to create a community outreach event for the residents of Key Biscayne, Florida—an island neighboring the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s main facility, and my hometown. This event was designed to encourage community residents to introduce themselves to the people behind the research to inform how we manage and protect our fisheries, habitats, and marine animals. I envisioned a panel series that fostered dialogue between Key Biscayners and local scientists.
Key Biscayne residents live on a roughly 5-mile-long barrier island in a tropical monsoon climate, which is increasingly affected by climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent storms, coral bleaching, and stormwater flooding are causing shifts in daily life and creating growing challenges. In light of these changes, it’s essential for Key Biscayne residents to stay informed and engaged with scientists who can offer guidance on how to stay safe and adapt to these evolving conditions. It seemed intuitive that Key Biscayne should be well acquainted with NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center and other local science institutions. My dream for this project is that it can become a model for similar initiatives in the future for the center as well as a way to create more local engagement in the Miami area and across the Southeast region.
Meet Your Neighborhood Scientists
Enter: “Meet Your Neighbors.” Loosely inspired by the television show Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, I wanted to portray the science center and its staff as neighbors of Key Biscayners. In the beginning stages of planning, I knew I would have to create the programming and reach out to different local environmental organizations and groups as panelists. The intention was to pair research-focused panelists with volunteer-based panelists on similar issues. This allowed us to share an immediate way to get involved beyond just awareness. Ultimately, my goal was to empower participants with both knowledge and calls to action.
This was not an easy undertaking. Developing the programming, finding partners for the project, reaching out to panelists, and confirming a date—all largely after working hours—was a tremendous challenge. I was working around the clock and introducing myself via email to many members of the science center with the help of the science center’s communication team.
As time passed, the consistency and steady communication began to pay off. Thanks to a partnership with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, I was able to host a professional community event with an eager crowd ready to learn! I scheduled a group of researchers to attend. I created promotional material and acted as a moderator for the panels. I felt an immediate sense of relief and accomplishment in bringing to life a concept that felt nearly impossible to pull off when I started.
Thanks to the Village
Working a full-time job and completing a part-time internship simultaneously isn’t for the faint of heart. But it can be done. Without my team at NOAA, my friends at the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, and my mentors guiding me through this journey, I surely wouldn’t be where I am today. Hopefully, this is the start of many other outreach events with the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and communities beyond the Key.
I’d like to personally thank and recognize the following panelists from the community outreach series:
- Dr. Ghassan (Gus) Alaka (NOAA AOML)
- Dr. Adriana González Fernández (Miami Waterkeeper)
- Lisa Belskis (NOAA Fisheries)
- Megan Kennedy (University of Miami)
- Dr. Jenny Litz (NOAA Fisheries)
- Nicole Bessemer (NOAA AOML)
Your contributions to the community and accessible science communication are greatly appreciated and help share important efforts more broadly.
Meet the Blogger
Bianca Sproul is a Master of Professional Science graduate student at the University of Miami studying environment, culture, and media. As an undergrad, she studied environmental studies and multimedia storytelling at New York University. She is looking forward to progressing in science and community communications. She also freelances as a writer for Brickell Magazine and Key Biscayne Magazine. Meet Bianca
