Women Making Waves at Scripps Oceanography

Throughout history, women from various backgrounds and ethnicities have made extraordinary achievements in science, education, medicine, media and more.

This month, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego honors Women’s History Month, including International Women’s Day on March 8, to recognize the long-lasting contributions of women in society and the progress made towards gender equality. 

In 1903, Scripps Institution of Oceanography was built from the ground up using crucial support from Ellen Browning Scripps — a suffragist, businesswoman, journalist, and philanthropist. 

Since then, Scripps Oceanography continues to increase female representation on campus, including its first female Director Margaret Leinen and department chair Lihini Aluwihare, who lead educational programs at Scripps; and numerous other trailblazing women who serve as faculty, staff, students, and researchers. 

Scripps alumnae also include history-making women such as Jessica Meir, a NASA astronaut who was part of the first all-female space walk; Megan McArthur, pilot of the NASA SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station in 2021; Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences; Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist and policy expert who co-founded The All We Can Save Project in an effort to build climate community; and Kim Cobb, a climate scientist who was appointed to President Biden’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

This March, the UC San Diego’s Women’s Center is hosting a series of events under the theme "Celebrating Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” These events recognize women who advocate to eliminate bias and discrimination to build a more inclusive future, and also celebrate achievements of women in our communities. Visit the Women’s History Month Event calendar to learn more. 

Scripps Oceanography also acknowledges the ongoing work to ensure gender equality on campus by updating current policies to be more equitable and transparent. Women and Minorities in Science (WMIS) is a membership organization at Scripps dedicated to creating and promoting an equitable and inclusive environment on campus through community-building events and outreach activities. 

The Scripps Ad Hoc Task Force was recently honored as one of the recipients of UC San Diego’s Inclusive Excellence Awards for 2023 for their work on a report, which concluded that women held disproportionately less space than men, regardless of research group size, funding, discipline, or research section. The release of this report sparked a series of ongoing initiatives aimed at implementing the space allocation recommendations, including revising the Scripps Space Policy and launching the Space Needs Assessment portal.

In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we talked with a few women who are making waves at Scripps. In the Q&A below, they shared what this month means to them, who inspires them, what advice they have for young girls and women, and more.

Flora Coden, MAS MBC Student

What is your role at Scripps Oceanography?

I am a current student in the Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MAS MBC) program at Scripps. 

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women’s History Month is a time to focus on all the accomplished females who may not receive credit for the important work they are doing. For me, this month provides a reason to reflect on everything that it means to be a woman in science. During my time at Scripps so far, I have been fortunate enough to meet many incredibly intelligent and motivated women. What is really special is how willing many of them are to take the time to speak with me about their research and career paths, as well as discuss my own. Meeting accomplished women in these roles is inspiring, but also reminds me that not everywhere is as progressive as Scripps. Unfortunately, women in science still have to work much harder than their male counterparts in many parts of the world.

Who is a woman who inspires you and why?

Many women inspire me and I meet more every day! My MAS MBC cohort is composed of approximately 90% women, and every one of them is kind, generous in helping one another, hardworking and just fun to be around and learn from. Here at Scripps, Tammy Russell is a huge inspiration for me. Tammy is in the final year of her PhD researching microplastics, seabird ecology and so much more. She is incredibly knowledgeable and generous with her time and mentorship. We share common interests, which led me to volunteer for her project in the Vernet Lab, where we are dissecting, quantifying and categorizing microplastics from seabird stomachs. I’m grateful to have connected with Tammy before she moves on to the next step of her career.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your career?

Once I graduate, I will likely have another answer for this question! But for now, I am most proud of following my desire to continue learning instead of staying stagnant in my previous career. In 2019, I sacrificed the stability and monetary perks of my desk job to follow my dream of becoming a field biologist. In 2023, I went a step further by coming to Scripps to pivot my career to follow my passion for marine science conservation. I’m proud that I took these risks to be where I am today and that I set myself up to have the means to be able to do so.

What advice do you have for young girls/women during Women’s History Month?

My advice would be that you don’t have to stay on one career path if it’s not making you happy or fulfilled. It would have been the easy, stable decision to continue on my career path back in 2019, but instead, I began a journey that led me here, where I’m excited and energized by what I’m learning. Even though it may be difficult — it might mean dealing with a steep learning curve, it may involve a pay cut, and it might force you to accept that you’re not amongst the youngest of your peers — taking those risks is worth it for something that brings you fulfillment.

Jessica Hallisey, Principal Marine and Field Research Safety Training Coordinator

What is your role at Scripps Oceanography?

A big part of my role is helping Scripps Oceanography students, staff and faculty get dive training and support for their research. I want folks to feel prepared, competent and able to do their dive work safely! I’m also currently building out more resources for fieldwork, like additional training and access to satellite communicators or first aid kits.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Months with a focus are an opportunity to take a probing look at the past, present, and future. We've indeed made significant legal and cultural strides in the last hundred years, however, most have only applied to white, cis women. So how much should we be celebrating if it’s not universal? As we watch many rights being stripped away, it feels even more urgent that we continue the work of previous generations. I hope that we can fight for things that apply to everyone (BIPOC and LGBTQIA+) this time around.

Who is a woman who inspires you and why?

A long time ago, I would have described someone who achieved ‘firsts’ or ‘bests’ like marine biologist Sylvia Earle, surfer Layne Beachley, rock climber Lynn Hill, or scuba diver Zale Parry, and I know Scripps has had a role in a lot of folks’ amazing successes in their fields. I now believe that everybody has their own ‘firsts’ and ‘bests.’ The young women at Scripps who are working so hard and everyone with their own set of challenges to overcome inspire me every day.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your career?

I’ve been teaching SCUBA diving, lifeguarding, and CPR/First Aid for almost three decades now. Seeing folks from my various classes all those years ago now working in their various fields and doing amazing things for themselves and the planet is just the best. I’m also pretty happy to be in a place where I feel encouraged to learn, grow and get better as a diver, as a responder, as a mentor, and as a person.

What advice do you have for young girls/women during Women’s History Month?

The phrase 'comparison is the thief of joy' comes to mind. So often I hear women I know saying 'everyone else' deals with their life stressors or academia better. We have no idea what goes on with 'everyone else' under the surface. Reading about amazing women of the past should be inspiring, not deflating. Give yourself grace to do and be the best you can and that’s enough. Being in the moment, taking care of ourselves, looking out for each other, and extending that outward makes the world a better place.

Alexia Moore, PhD Candidate

What is your role at Scripps Oceanography?

I am a PhD candidate in Professor Kimberly Prather’s research group. My research focuses on understanding the impact marine gas emissions have on the formation of secondary marine aerosols. I have used laboratory systems to simplify the complex marine environment to better study the effect coastal oceans have on the atmosphere. The goal is to enhance our knowledge of secondary marine aerosols as they have an impact on cloud formation.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women’s History Month is a time to remember and celebrate all the women who have paved the way for the next generation of women to achieve their dreams. It is especially important to highlight the contribution of BIPOC women, who are often overlooked in history. This also serves as a time to inspire young women to continue the fight for our rights and equality.

Who is a woman who inspires you and why?

Many amazing women have inspired and supported me on my journey, but none more than my mother. Throughout my life, she has always encouraged and supported every goal and dream of mine. She has shown me that it is possible to be an amazing mother and have a successful career. I am forever grateful for her guidance and unwavering belief in me.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your career?

Two achievements stand out in my career so far. First, getting my first co-first author paper accepted was a significant milestone. Secondly, serving as a graduate mentor for UC San Diego's STARS program has been the highlight of my graduate school career. Supporting undergraduate students along a path similar to mine and watching them grow and succeed in graduate programs has been very exciting. Being able to give back to a program that helped me decide to pursue a PhD was important to me.

What advice do you have for young girls/women during Women’s History Month?

I would advise them to follow the path that feels right for them. There are so many great people that want to help, so don’t be afraid to reach out. It’s also very important to find your community and support system within your career field and also outside of it. But most importantly, enjoy every step of the journey and celebrate even the smallest victories.

Minghua Zheng, Data Assimilation Researcher at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes 

What is your role at Scripps Oceanography?

My research role contributes to an enhanced understanding of atmospheric river dynamics and predictability. I employ data assimilation tools to analyze the impacts of Atmospheric River Reconnaissance (AR Recon) observations on weather forecasts. In AR Recon operations, I lead the collaborative Quantitative Tool Team, synthesizing the initial condition sensitivity for flight planning and track design. My mentoring role includes guiding intern students who advance to graduate school and supervising a radar data assimilation postdoc. 

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women's History Month is an excellent opportunity for me to investigate the contributions and accomplishments of women across history. It is a reminder to stay mindful of gender-related issues, such as implicit biases and often overlooked achievements. One fact I learned last year is that women researchers are less cited than men, and get less authorship credit than men. This month, I plan to involve myself in educating my daughter and her friends, emphasizing bravery, independence, open-mindedness, and critical thinking.

Who is a woman who inspires you and why?

Madame Curie has been a significant role model for me. I read her biography at the age of 11, and her success as a female scientist motivated me to be a scientist so that I can become an expert in my field and contribute to the progress of science and technology.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your career?

I take great pride in leading a proposal team comprising seven universities/institutions, including one from the UK. Despite a short timeline, we successfully finalized the proposal and submitted it before the deadline, targeting a $7 million funding opportunity for advancing data assimilation research and education. Another achievement is the publication of our Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) data gap paper in 2021, which received recognition by being featured as the cover figure, and for the first time, as the inside cover figure in BAMS.

What advice do you have for young girls/women during Women’s History Month?

My advice for young girls and women is to prioritize what truly matters and cherish time with those you care about. Embrace your unique perspectives, be resilient, and face challenges with determination. Along the path to success, remember to support fellow women and take pride in celebrating your achievements.