Celebrating Husky100: two Marine Biology students named in 2024
Every year, UW celebrates the Husky 100, recognizing undergraduate and graduate students who are making the most of their time at the University of Washington, both inside and outside of the classroom. This year in 2024, two Marine Biology undergraduates have been named as part of the Husky 100 cohort – congratulations to Aisha Rashid and Samantha-Lynn Martinez. Both double majors, Aisha is also majoring in Oceanography and Samantha-Lynn is majoring in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology.
How does it feel to be named one of the Husky 100 for 2024?
Aisha : “It feels like the bow wrapping up my undergraduate experience – a celebration of all of the places and people I have gotten involved with on campus! I feel honored to have been able to leave a mark on such a special place, and for my hard work to be recognized. When I was in the process of working on many of these projects, it was easy to forget the bigger picture and this serves as a wonderful reminder!”
Samantha-Lynn Martinez : “It feels so surreal! With so much happening on the sidelines of school, work, and personal projects, I oftentimes forget to take a moment to breathe and reflect on what all that work has led up to. Sometimes I feel a huge amount of imposter syndrome over my work and this stage in my career path but having this type of recognition through the university alongside some of my best friends and inspirations is so exciting.”
Aisha, in your Husky 100 bio, you mentioned an initiative to reach global audiences with regards to ocean education access – can you tell us a bit more about it?
“Yes! I have partnered with grammy-nominated rapper duo EARTHGANG to spread ocean and land-based climate solutions to their audiences with the goal of instilling hope and action against climate change. We are working to connect fan bases around the country to the 65,000+ environmental non-profits based in the USA, specifically focusing on bringing minority groups outdoors to foster relationships with nature. We hope to empower communities to take charge of their environments and participate in local, small-scale resilience efforts, while the governments do their due diligence in curbing CO2 emissions. I hope to shift the narrative from a doom-centered approach to anchoring in the successful stories I see in science everyday. I can’t wait to start working with more musicians and am grateful that there are so many people willing to get involved in the fight against climate change.”
In your efforts to introduce people to science through communication, Samantha-Lynn can you share with us some of the highlights of this work for you?
“Having science communication as both my playground and my work is such a treat. Considering that this work has spanned across in-person engagement to media (photo, video, and design), I’ve had some really exciting highlights and moments across the board with all this type of work. For me personally, the biggest highlight I’ve had is working with my dream organizations and institutions over the years. From NOAA, E/V Nautilus, the Seattle Aquarium, and more, I’ve met SO many incredible supervisors and mentors who have allowed me to have practically full creative freedom over plenty of science communication projects, and that willingness to let me insert my voice and style into that work is just priceless. Making science fun and “pretty” for people outside of the field through fun infographics, posters, and videos is a ton of work, but pays off in an instant when I can see people’s faces light up with curiosity and excitement when engaging with the materials.
“A more recent highlight is that I’ve been asked to review a children’s marine biology book as a consultant, and now I’m working towards a very exciting project with the Burke Museum regarding children’s TV media. Things are rolling!”
What’s been your favorite research experience so far during your Husky journey Aisha?
“My favorite research experiences are completing my Oceanography senior thesis aboard the Thompson in American Samoa, as well as working in the San Juan islands on Southern Resident killer whale research with Dr. Deborah Giles! In American Samoa, I studied submarine volcanism, and loved taking sediment samples and seeing the bathymetry of this unique survey site. It was an incredible experience to work alongside the senior class, and I cannot wait to call my peers ten years down the line to share research and expertise in our various specialties!”
Time for some words of wisdom, for those wanting to pursue marine science.
Aisha : “Use your background to your advantage! Your unique perspective is instrumental in diversifying research that will inform or support climate action, which reaches every part of the world. Keep in touch with your mentors and put yourself out there. You never know when you might meet a professional that you click with, so stay engaged, curious, and asking questions. I found so many resources through listservs and email, and signed up for anything I thought was interesting! In that process, I learned to find opportunities and made sure to pass those skills to my peers to make sure they could find things that interest them as well. In a field that is essential in the face of climate change, it is extremely important to be supportive of those around you and to share the love! We are all on the same team!”
Samantha-Lynn : “Do not forget to explore, explore, and explore! So much of this field involves tenacity of every kind, physical, mental, emotional, etc. Explore your own limits and the limits of your studies and curriculum. If something like a class or opportunity sparks excitement in you but is just out of reach for your “prescribed” curriculum or degree path, still take that shot. Some of my favorite experiences in late high school and during undergrad have come from shots in the dark for things I didn’t guarantee would work out. Advocate for yourself in academic and internship situations where passion and work overlap, and do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. No one is expecting you to have anything about your long-term career figured out, and that’s really what this early career stage is all about. Share your wild ideas and outside passions with those you work for and see where special alignments could occur! All in all, communication is a huge proponent to success in this field.”