Outreach, Filmmaking and Research: Student Spotlight with Samantha-Lynn Martinez
What inspired you to study marine biology?
I really dove into marine biology during high school. I’ve always had an interest in the marine environment and being born in the Philippines and then moving to Seattle, this affinity for the marine environment was always there for me. Going to beaches, tracing the seafood I ate, stewardship principles – these things are all a big part of my culture.
My first foray into legitimately learning about a topic I’d always been passionate about was when I volunteered at the Seattle Aquarium. I had no idea before then that there were actionable things I could be a part of that didn’t have accessibility barriers like cost. The volunteer program allowed me to have flexibility while I was still in high school, but meant I could devote time to my professional career goals and studies. Getting so much hands-on experience in talking and engaging with marine science, both with experts and the public, was eye-opening. This is also where I discovered my love of outreach work, and a lot of what I do now has stemmed from this – how to bring other people into the marine science conversation in an accessible and engaging way.
You speak about your passion for outreach – why is this important for you?
Social media is a great way to connect with a wide range of people and I’m exploring the different ways to be engaging on this platform. Right now, I’m primarily focused on a lot of very straight-forward, catchy content in the format of short-form video and infographics, to open up marine science for a wider group of people.
I’ve also worked with the SEAS team at UW on in-person outreach with middle and high schoolers which involves developing lessons and talking about my academic journey. It’s also valuable for young people to see a non-white person in marine science as it’s always beneficial to have your own community visually represented in the field you want to be in. I get a lot of students telling me they had no idea that Filipinas were in their field. I always grew up wanting to see a Steve Irwin who looks like me and this is a priority to me – to be that for someone else.
Why choose UW for your studies?
Being a local Seattleite was definitely a factor as I’ve always been exposed to UW. The connections between high school and UW through the Seattle Aquarium also helped to shape my decision as some of my classes and training sessions counted towards college credit.
Beyond that, UW has a fantastic marine science program and the location is incredible. UW has long-standing programs related to the marine sciences, from fishery sciences to oceanography and more. There are so many opportunities open to students that I would never have known about if I went to a different school.
You have so many opportunities coming your way, with your hard work clearly paying off. What tips would you give to others?
My biggest tip is to talk to others – advisers in different departments, people who have connections that might not match up with yours, other people doing cool things. They can all loop you into intel and different opportunities to open up your studies and your interests. Finding out about volunteering with SEAS came through speaking with the marine biology adviser, Joe. There are so many opportunities where people are looking for students to be involved in various projects, so talking to people, being willing to learn, and being open to experiences outside of your comfort zone are key.
I’m a big advocate of always being authentic to yourself. You’re still a person outside of your studies. Being at college offers us the opportunity to zoom out and go far beyond just the field we’re studying. Growing these skills means you’re a lot more well-rounded and can also give you the chance to market yourself in the future for many more careers.
Anything exciting coming up soon for you?
Yes! I’ll actually be attending Jackson Wild, which is a film festival likened to the Oscars for nature and wildlife filmmaking, and I am so excited. I’ll be helping out as a volunteer, and this means I can attend the event for free. It’s a great program that’s heavily focused on professional development of volunteers, plus the chance to meet other industry professionals. They have mentor-mentee breakfasts, 1-2-1s, pitch sessions for those who have film ideas and want funding.
And just before this film festival, I’ll be attending a REDucation workshop run by RED Digital Cinema to learn how to work on their cameras, and again I was invited into this so I don’t have to pay anything. The course will be at the Teton Raptor Center so it’s got the added benefit of being in a stunning location in the Grand Tetons. This course opens up so many opportunities for me, as knowing how to use high-end industry cameras that are used in filmmaking is a game changer when applying to different positions. Having this chance to learn so much between practical and technical skills, plus being on the ground with people from the industry, is incredible.
What’s next for you after your undergrad degree?
I’m heading into the second half of my undergrad journey, so I’m currently focused on the topics my passion originated from: marine science and marine biology. This is what my outreach content is based on too, and the communications side is really appealing to me when I think about grad programs. There are programs focused on science communication, natural history filmmaking, wildlife camera work, or even natural museums where you engage more with public and research. So lots to think about!
For now, I’m prioritizing learning how to better communicate with people as this is where my passion is and it’s a great way to get my foot in the door and complement the skills I’m currently building up. There are so many pathways in the science communications realm and I’m excited to see where it leads me.