ECOP Conversations
Photo credit: The Ocean Agency / Ocean Image Bank
ECOP Conversations is an opportunity to meet Early Career Ocean Professionals around the World and learn more about their work in relation to the UN Decade of Ocean Science. You can watch each episode below and also access the playlist on our YouTube channel.
Watch Series One featuring:
Alexis Anne Bahl is a National Geographic Explorer (2022) from the U.S., currently a PhD Candidate the University of British Columbia. She is studying Biological Oceanographics, specifically the migration of salps in the Southern Ocean.
Read Alexis’s guest blog article here.
Chris Promise Nwachukwu, from Nigeria, is dedicated to creating a healthy and sustainable future for our generation. As the Founder and Convenor of the Green Promise Initiative Organization (GPI), he is on a passionate journey to inspire environmental change and to bring a shift in environmental consciousness.
He is on the ECOP Africa steering committee and is a member of the Ocean Literacy organ. Discover more about Chris’s work here.
Camille Rivera is a marine biologist who is from and based in the Philippines. She studied her Masters in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation in Belgium and later went back to the Philippines for the warm waters, salty air and coconut trees. She set up her own organisation: Oceanus Conservation and has worked for more than 8 years in the field of coastal management in different islands, particularly in mangrove conservation and management.
Khadija Stewart is an enthusiastic environmentalist with a passion for inspiring behaviour change through knowledge sharing and innovative storytelling. She holds a BSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Management, an MSc in sustainable development with Management Studies and a 2nd MSc in Climate Change and Development. Khadija is founder of Ecovybz Environmental Creatives and is responsible for creating and coordinating The Thinking Beyond the Tides Capacity building workshop, specifically for ECOPs in the Caribbean region.
Hari Vishnu is a Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore working on underwater acoustic signal processing, machine learning for bio-acoustics and robotics. He is part of the Ocean Decade outreach committee of IEEE Oceanic Engineering society, and helps with science communication efforts as Chief Editor of the OES Science outreach magazine Earthzine. In Singapore, he is the chair of the local OES chapter, and has been instrumental in organizing the Singapore AUV challenge, the largest student underwater robotics competition in Asia.
Amber Carter is a marine social ecologist specialising in tropical coastal ecosystems and small-scale fishing communities. Her work combines marine ecology, climate science and social research to explore how marine conservation cannot only support biodiversity, but the food security and livelihoods of local communities. Currently in the third year of her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, Amber’s research is focused in Madagascar working with traditional Vezo fishing communities. Amber was named a 2022 Explorer with the Scientific Exploration Society for her community film project Voices of the Vezo.
Watch Series Two featuring:
Mafalda Isidro is a dedicated marine ecology researcher from Portugal whose doctoral work investigates the promise of macroalgae as bioindicators in coral reef ecosystems. She aims to establish robust baselines across spatial and temporal scales and her research seeks to enhance our understanding of how macroalgae can reliably signal environmental change and pollution levels.
Driven by the belief that ecological research should lead to tangible impact, Mafalda applies her findings to real-world marine conservation. Her overarching goal is to inform and optimize marine monitoring programs, aiding policymakers and stakeholders in designing evidence-based strategies to mitigate pollution and protect marine health.
In this “ECOP Conversations” episode, Mafalda shares her journey and research approach: She explains her fascination with macroalgae, describing them as accessible, sensitive, and cost-effective sentinels for reef health and discusses how she integrates stable isotope ratios (e.g., carbon and nitrogen) and trace metal concentrations to detect nutrient loading, heavy metal contamination, and anthropogenic stressors in reef environments.
She highlights case studies where temporal surveys and benthic community profiling revealed spatial pollution patterns, illustrating macroalgae’s potential to reflect both acute and chronic impacts. Mafalda emphasizes translating her findings into actionable monitoring schemes. She advocates for sustainable, scalable approaches that can be adopted by local stakeholders and conservation programs. And finally she offers some advice to fellow early career ocean professionals; she champions interdisciplinary collaboration and maintaining a clear eye on the ultimate ecological and societal benefits of research.
Melissa Pappas, a marine scientist the United States with an M.S. in Marine Science from KAUST and further coral‑bleaching research experience at UNSW, is also a passionate science communicator, artist, and founder of the SciArt community “Emerging Creatives of Science”.
In her ECOP Conversations interview, she discusses how her multidisciplinary expertise enables her to bridge rigorous marine science and creative storytelling—using art, writing, and digital media to amplify the significance of marine and environmental issues.
She highlights the importance of visual and narrative tools in engaging broader audiences with coral reef conservation, advocating for inclusive, impactful science outreach. Across research and communication, Melissa encourages blending artistic expression with ecology to foster environmental stewardship and equity in STEM.
Alexis Anne Bahl is a National Geographic Explorer (2022) from the U.S., currently a PhD Candidate the University of British Columbia. She is studying Biological Oceanographics, specifically the migration of salps in the Southern Ocean.
Read Alexis’s guest blog article here.
Ali Alabyadh is a passionate geologist and marine scientist dedicated to advancing ocean conservation and sustainable coastal development. Originally from a small island in the Arabian Gulf, Ali’s early connection to the sea shaped a lifelong curiosity about Earth’s dynamic systems. Holding a Master’s degree in Geology and a background in Petroleum Engineering, Ali’s career took a transformative turn toward the ocean. Driven by a deep concern for marine ecosystems, he pursued a second Master’s in Marine Biology and is now undertaking a Ph.D. in Marine Science, focusing on coral reef conservation and restoration. Ali’s research along the Red Sea coast explores ways to protect coral reef ecosystems while balancing the needs of coastal development. Beyond academia, he is committed to bridging science and society—translating complex marine research into public awareness and actionable policies. Through collaboration with decision-makers and community stakeholders, Ali champions environmentally conscious practices that safeguard ocean health for future generations. Guided by a vision of harmony between progress and planetary well-being, Ali represents a growing wave of ocean professionals dedicated to creating a sustainable future—where science, policy, and people work together to protect our blue planet.
Gilbers Romero Suarez is marine taxonomist originally from Caracas, Venezuela, now based in Nice, France. Gilbers specializes in benthic marine invertebrates, with a strong focus on taxonomy and systematics. Currently working at Université Côte d’Azur in the ECOSEAS laboratory, he plays a key role in marine biodiversity research, from DNA sampling during oceanographic campaigns to identifying invertebrate species for major ecological monitoring projects. His expertise spans fieldwork logistics, species identification, experimental protocol implementation, and data analysis. He’s also an experienced scientific diver and snorkeler, bringing research directly into the field. Beyond the lab, Gilbers is passionate about science communication and education. He designs outreach materials, leads hands-on learning experiences for students, and mentors trainees, combining technical precision with leadership and pedagogical skills. you can reach out to him on this link: 
/ gilbers-romero-suarez
