Big Fish, Little Fish: Incorporating Youth into Marine Science

Today’s youth makes up a significant portion of the global population yet they hold the least power— institutionally speaking. As climate change threatens the sake of our futures, it is important more than ever to get youth involved in the the climate movement and ocean sciences. By learning ways to encourage, support, and uplift youth in our own work, we can empower the next generation of scientists to fight for a livable future.

Speaker: Chanté Davis is a current scholar at Duke University (US) studying marine science and conservation. Chanté is passionate about shark conservation and making ocean conservation spaces more equitable and accessible for BIPOC youth, which has been apparent through her advocacy and activism. At 17 years old, Chanté orchestrated a 400-mile Gulf South climate march from her hometown of New Orleans to her post-Katrina home in Houston, Texas and has worked closely with renowned leaders such as Senator Edward Markey, Congressman Mondaire Jones, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, contributing to impactful public events and empowering listeners through her climate storytelling. Chantè is also a writer, with pieces published by Teen Vogue, Well and Good, and OH Wake— a zine for youth interested in ocean conservation in which she was a contributing editor for the first 4 issues. Recently, Chanté has made a splash in the media world, being featured in documentaries such as “To the End” by award-winning director Rachael Lears and co-starring with actor Ted Danson in another film called “Changemakers.”