Maya Plass

What inspired you to pursue a career in marine conservation and science communication?

From a very young age my science teaching mother, instilled a strong relationship with nature whether that be swimming in local rivers and learning about minnows or walking to Hilbre Island and marvelling at immense tides as a young teenager. My mother was always there to answer my endless questions about the world around me. It was spending time on Hilbre Island and the local Wirral coast that I fell in love with the sea. I had so many questions about our coast with so many seeming unknown answers. When I came to Plymouth and started diving my relationship with the sea grew all the more stronger. I wanted more people to understand how beautiful our ocean is but critically balanced with how important it is for our survival.

How do you think increasing diversity in marine related careers could impact the future of this field?

We need diverse perspectives from all walks of life to understand and best communicate our ideas. The speed of our understanding and the impact it will have will be sped up by having influences from great minds that have had different experiences and challenges in life. The more diversity we have in our industry the more variety of thoughts, perspectives and inspiration and the faster we will find solutions to some of our biggest challenges.

Within your professional career, what work are you most proud of?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have quite a diverse career. I have been extremely proud of a career in which I wrote books, had some TV experience and more recently overseeing the Marine Biological Association's rebrand and new website. But it is the people who we communicate our science to and the impact that may have that really matters to me. For some time, I worked in marine education running workshops and events for young people. I had been working with a primary school to learn about their local nature reserve over an entire term. At the end of the term, they invited their parents along to teach them about the wildlife in their local reserve. At the end of the session two young people unexpectedly asked if they could sing a song. They then started singing Louis Armstrong's, "What a wonderful world" because they had "looked around and realised what a wonderful world" they lived in. There were few dry eyes. It will always be such a privilege and honour to help communicate marine science to our wider community and inspire more people to protect our ocean.

What are some of the most exciting innovations or breakthroughs happening in your area of work right now?

Woking at the MBA, I am often amazed at the next steps of technology and the impact that has had and is having. We have tags that can be attached to sharks so we better understand their behaviour in relation to depleted oxygen zones with data instantly communicated via the wizardry of satellites. We are part of another project in which we will sequence the DNA of over 1000 marine species. This library of life has countless benefits some of which we are not even yet aware of. We are at an incredible era of technology which is changing our ability to monitor, measure and record changes in our ocean. It is always exciting to witness tomorrow's history.

How has your journey in this field shaped your perspective on gender equality in STEM?

I have had several experiences which have made me question my place, as a woman, in the working world but I have also had wonderfully supportive role models in STEM who have supported, encouraged and given me direction. The essence of gender equality, for me, is about supporting all of those new to the profession so they have confidence to speak out and be heard regardless of gender.

What industry book have you read recently?

I'm a huge fan and collector of historical books which give a great insight in to just how far we have come. I'm currently re-reading Eugenie Clark's "Lady with a Spear". She was a pioneer of her time and a fantastic role model for so many.