From trauma to change maker: my experience as a United Nations Climate Activist and Early Careers Researcher

When I was 18 I had a life changing experience as a result of a car accident, that left me in recovery for two-and-a-half years and prevented me from living a ‘normal life’. During recovery I struggled not only with severe physical pain and trauma but mental frustration due to limited physical capabilities. 

My degree was delayed and with the ongoing battle to recovery, I had a bleak outlook on life. But it was during this period my thinking completely switched. I made an active decision to move away from being engrossed on all that I couldn’t do, to focusing on what I could. I turned to reading online educational courses in marine biology and citizen science. 

As a young person at the time, I struggled to see beyond my immediate physical restrictions; I now look back and see that this period was a pivotal moment in making me who I am. My perspectives changed and my mantra on helping others, people and planet alike really came to light. I realised how precious life was and, thus, how hard we must work to protect it. I’m proud to say a once traumatic experience has become a key positive driver in my life. 

It was in my first year that I began to make conscious decisions to begin to build my skills and haphazardly began to re-engage in environmental action, while pursuing academia. I had no overall ambition in this work, just to simply do as much as possible. I volunteered at the National Marine Aquarium, joined CoachBright as a course rep, and participated in the 2019 Autumn FLUX business challenge, to which our team placed 1st and I was awarded the Outstanding Participant Award. While pursuing a degree in BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, my interests in youth leadership began to grow and I’d spend hours googling opportunities to get involved in. I began to network and engaged with organisations like The Future Leaders Network and One Young World, all while building my own ideas and learning. 

The first related position I applied for I was actually rejected from; it was for a delegate role at the Y7 (youth G7 Summit) to which I was shortlisted and then rejected in the final round. Despite feeling discouraged, I attended the leadership training I was offered and began to apply what I was taught. In 2020, I managed to secure a £5000 sponsorship from the University to attend One Young World (OYW) as a delegate in 2021 – a summit which brings young leaders together, with the likes of Dr Jane Goodall, Bob Geldof, Sylvia Earle and global leaders in attendance. I am now an ongoing Ambassador for OYW. 

My second year at university is where I really began to hone in on my interests in environmental policy work, youth-led action and public speaking. I delivered a talk on behalf of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and was a guest speaker at the MBA’s Young Marine Biologist Summit 2020. My continued efforts in the leaders network also paid off as I was selected to be a Member of the UK Working Group for the Y7 2021 Summit, where my role was to ensure the involvement of youth in policy recommendations for the G7, particularly underrepresented groups, and produced a national and international youth outreach strategy. This was the year I also co-founded Ambassadors of Earth, a not-for-profit organisation that works to empower and support youth in localised community-led environmental action. This started through my team’s participation in the Global University Climate Forum, an opportunity I just so happened to hear about from a lecturer’s email. 

My final year of my degree I decided to concentrate on my dissertation, focused on marine ornamentals and ecophysiology. It was also the year my involvement with the United Nations began. In 2021, I was selected to speak at 10th annual United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum (ECOSOC) as part of the Planet session 'Accelerating Action for the Planet'. More recently I was chosen to represent the UK as a delegate at the 17th United Nations Conference of Youth (COY17), led by the official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and attended COP27. 

I am currently a postgraduate research student at the Doctoral College, working towards a PhD. Prior to and post-accident, I worked in the marine ornamental trade. My first-hand knowledge of the trade has largely driven my ongoing passion to pursue a PhD which looks to tackle some of the key issues within the trade. In 2022, I was co-awarded, with colleague William Jones, the David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST). This ongoing project titled 'Flying Fish: The Journey of Marine Ornamentals' saw us document the marine ornamental trade in the Philippines by working alongside exporters and fishermen, to bring to light trade practice and evoke discussion on its sustainability.

Interestingly, through my research, I am looking at how we can utilise ecophysiological techniques in innovative ways to not only tackle key theories in biology but also to advise practice in relation to transporting marine specimens to minimise death and poor health. Many of these species we currently know very little about in science. However, my continuation towards my PhD in this largely new and innovative field is entirely dependent on obtaining financial support.