Meet our Early Career Ocean Professionals: Katrina Khan-Roberts (Challenge 10)
Katrina Khan-Roberts bio
1. Hi Katrina, can you tell us how you are working towards the Ocean Decade Challenge 10: Change humanity’s relationship with the Ocean?
Ocean literacy and ocean science resources using accessible language for different age groups with the common point of learning about the ocean and how to protect it via a little mermaid magic. My audio visual and literary works feature the character Mertrina the Trinidad and Tobago mermaid who imparts knowledge on the basics.of marine biology and introduces skills and concepts based on how conservation can be implemented, for all.ages.
2. Why do you think it is important to work towards this Challenge?
3. What was the Ocean’s influence on you growing up, and what’s has changed for you since you’ve been working towards this Challenge?
With most of the ocean yet to be explored, it is a sad reality that we are losing things faster than we are discovering them due to human activities. To reconnect people to the ocean and.our inextricable connection, we must first have foundational knowledge of ocean science and then actions built upon it. This is part of the systematic approach to ocean conservation.
4. What is unique about your perspective/motivation (culturally, geographically, personal connection etc)?
I am a woman from the SIDS of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. I was born overlooking the sea and had a deep connection with the salt waters as far as I can remember. The fantasy of becoming a mermaid is one I’ve had as far as my memory reaches, because I felt like they were a personification of the mystery and beauty of the sea. As a youth and a professional, I took on the work of education and awareness building, but only when I turned 30 and the pandemic as well as violent crime made me realise that time is short did I use my nickname Mertrina the Mermaid to create an actual character through which different ages could interact for a greater impact.
5. Tell us about some of your recent achievements/highlights/success or alternatively what are you struggling with, or what challenges/barriers are you facing?
Though my country derives many resources from the ocean, our community has lost its connection to the sea. I grew up seeing shell beaches, clean water and abundant wildlife. That is how replaced with plastic pollution more than shells, sargassum choked water and carcases on the shoreline. I had been working as a youth advocate for most of my life, and I realised that to make an impact you have to be different as the attention spans and interests of the children now will shape the future decision makers. So I used my academic background to shape the foundations I’d like to impart and build an edutainment model around it.
I am the national youth award recipient for environmental champion 2022. I have self published 4 Mertrina books and a poetry book about the ocean. Alternatively I am a stay at home mother and have not been successful in attaining remote employment which would suit my lifestyle with two very young children. Without income I am struggling to survive, far less work on my ocean literacy campaign.
6. How can people support you and your work?
I would like to use my capacities in organising and creating actionable strategies towards environmental sustainability and youth engagement. I have books available on Amazon and ocean literacy campaign materials and rollout ready to be funded. Follow and share Mertrina at https://linktr.ee/mertrina