Today is the U.N. International Day of Women and Girls in Science

This year’s theme is equity, diversity, and inclusion: water unites us. Today the U.N. is hosting an assembly on achieving clean water for everyone, and the role of women and girls in science as agents of change in water sanitation, conservation, and access. 

Here at WHOI, we are united by water. And we are committed to attaining full and equal access and participation for women and girls in science-the primary reason that the U.N. established this day. 

Throughout our history, WHOI has been home to extraordinary women in science and engineering. In recent years, we have been working to create an educational and workplace culture where the voices of all people are fully heard and fully included-particularly those that have been marginalized in the past. 

In solidarity with women and girls around the world, we present a selection of stories about our women in science-featured in the last year-who are shaping the future of ocean-based science. 

Read them all:

• Ocean Engineer Anna Michel on sniffing out methane in the deep sea
• Assistant Scientist Sophie Hines discusses the paleo-research power of fossilized corals
• MIT-WHOI Joint Program student Ciara Dooley talks about her work studying coastal processes with DUNEX
• Research Assistant Erin Frates on efficiency and ease at sea 
• MIT-WHOI Joint Program Amy Phung on automating exploration
• Alvin Certification Coordinator Lisa Smith on a dream that was decades in the making
• MIT-WHOI Joint Program student Jaida Elcock on why diversity is essential in the marine ecosystem–and in science
• MIT-WHOI Joint Program Student Cynthia Becker on solutions to coral health in the smallest details
• MIT-WHOI Joint Program Student Lauren Dykman on falling in love with deep-sea parasites
• Alvin Engineer Rose Wall engineer on learning the sub from the inside out
• Guest Investigator Harriet Harden-Davies is on the frontlines of ocean policy
• Engineer Emma Cotter on analyzing acoustic data