INOCEAN SCIENCE GIRLS
ANNUAL TEEN CONFERENCE
SATURDAY FEB. 22ND, 2025
REPORT FINAL
Thanks to your generous support, the Ocean Institute successfully hosted the Girls in Ocean Science Teen Conference on February 22, 2025, welcoming 111 young women eager to explore careers in marine science. This annual event continues to be a pivotal experience, connecting influential female scientists with the next generation of ocean ambassadors and providing them with hands-on learning opportunities in laboratory settings and aboard the R/V Sea Explorer.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Attendance: 111 middle and high school students participated in the conference, engaging in interactive workshops and networking with accomplished female scientists.
Speaker Lineup: Renowned professionals from various ocean science fields shared their expertise and career insights, including:
Clare Fieseler – National Geographic Explorer; POLITICO, reporter
Kylie Kinne – PhD Candidate, Polar Oceanography, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego
Margo Peyton – Founder & CEO of Kids Sea Camp; Inductee, International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame
Sydney Rilum – Science, Research, and Policy Specialist, USC Sea Grant
Jillian Taylor – Ambassadiver, PADI; Wildlife Biology Master’s Program, Memorial University.
REPORT FINAL
Hands-On Experiences: Participants engaged in scientific exploration through:
Laboratory activities guided by leading ocean scientists
Field research aboard the R/V Sea Explorer, providing firsthand exposure to marine science techniques
Girl Scouts Participation: Girl Scouts attending the conference had the opportunity to earn the STEM Career Exploration Badge through tailored activities. Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors received both guidance and their physical badges during the event.
FUTURE GROWTH & DEMAND
The overwhelming success of this year’s conference has sparked growing interest in expanding the program. Many participants and educators have expressed enthusiasm for seeing the event grow, with hopes of extending its reach to even more aspiring young scientists. Your support has played a crucial role in this initiative, and with continued investment, we can create even greater opportunities for young women in ocean science. Plans for future conferences include expanding workshop offerings, increasing attendance capacity, and furthering mentorship opportunities to inspire and empower the next generation of marine scientists.
On behalf of the Ocean Institute and all the participants whose futures you have helped shape, thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to advancing ocean education.
MADE MEMORIES
SCHEDULE GIOS
7:45am-8:30am Check-in and Breakfast
8:30am-9:00am Welcome and Keynote Speaker
9:00am-9:20am Group Icebreakers
9:20am-11:30am Morning Rotations/Cruise
11:30am-12:45pm Lunch and Q+A Panel
12:45pm-3:00pm Afternoon Rotations/Cruise
3:00pm Check Out
KEYNOTE SPEAKER MEETTHE
Meet Margo Peyton, a trailblazer in diving and ocean conservation. She is an Ocean Ambassador, Elite Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and the founder of Kids Sea Camp. Margo’s incredible work has earned her a spot in the prestigious InternationalScubaDivingHallofFame.
Twenty-four years ago, as a single mother, Margo saw the need for familyfriendly dive trips and created Kids Sea Camp. What started with just seven families in Curacao has grown into a global program welcoming over 500 familieseveryyear.
Through Kids Sea Camp, Margo has helped certify more than 8,000 young divers and inspired a love for the underwaterworld.
Margo and her husband, Tom, also started Ocean Wishes, a charity that teachesunderprivilegedchildrenhowto dive, supports global education, and protects the ocean through conservationandtrainingprograms.
SCIENTISTS MEETTHE
DR.CLAREFIESELER
POLITICO,Reporter
Smithsonian’sNational MuseumofNatural History,researcher
EricandWendySchmidt AwardforExcellencein
ScienceCommunications, Winner
NationalGeographic, Explorer
Dr. Clare is a scientist, journalist, and National Geographic Explorer whose work shines a light on how people navigate our changing oceans and warming world. Her bylines appear in outlets like NPR, National Geographic, and The Washington Post, and she currently covers the green energy transition as a staff reporter for POLITICO and E&ENews.
With a PhD in ecology from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Clare has explored coral reefs, taught climate change courses at Georgetown, and conducted groundbreaking marine mammal research in the Arabian Gulf. She seamlessly blends science, storytelling, and journalism to empower others to engage with thenaturalworld.
SCIENTISTS MEETTHE
Meet Kylie, a PhD stude the Scripps Institutio Oceanography, Univers California, San Diego studies how icebergs im the way water mov fjords, acting like flo barriers and cre changes in water flow is also interested in water from melting gl leaves fjords and mixes into the larger ocean, affecting globalcurrents.
Using observations from a fjord in Greenland and computer models, Kylie’s research helps us understand the important role icebergs and glaciers playintheocean.
UniversityofCalifornia, SanDiegoScripps Institutionof Oceanography,PhD CandidateforPolar Oceanography
KYLIEKINNE
SCIENTISTS MEETTHE
SYDNEYRILUM
UniversityofSouthern CaliforniaSeaGrant &WrigleyInstitutefor Environmentand Sustainability, Science,Research, andPolicySpecialist forMarineDebris
Fun Fact:Sydneyisan OrangeCountynative andwenttoGIOSwhen shewasinhighschool!
Sydney Rilum is a Marine Deb USC Sea Grant and USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. She helps lead research and policy development on marine microplastics and works collaboratively with communities in Southern California to develop improved technologies, and impactful outreach and educational programming to reduce the amountofmarinedebrisandmicroplasticsthat enter coastal systems. With a diverse career portfolio, Sydney has worked in education, habitat and species monitoring, research and data science fields within a variety of environmental and sustainability sectors, includingnon-profit(LagunaOceanFoundation, Aquarium of the Pacific, OC Habitats), state agency (CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Control Board), and private (Ocean Rainforest). Sydney holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara Bren School with specializations in Coastal Marine Resources Management and Environmental Data Science, as well as a BachelorsinEnvironmentalandOceanSciences with a Marine Ecology focus from the University ofSanDiego.
SCIENTISTS MEETTHE
Meet Jillian Taylor, a wildlife scientist and ocean enthusiast who has spent her life exploring thefrigidwatersofNewfoundland, Canada.Whethershe’ssnorkeling, scuba diving, or surfing, Jillian is passionate about showcasing the incrediblebiodiversityoftheNorth Atlantic.
She is currently completing her MasterofScience,focusingonthe Atlantic puffin an iconic seabird that, like Jillian, thrives in the ocean.
She loves challenging the idea that the North Atlantic is just dark and empty, sharing its vibrant marine life through her research andstorytelling.
Jillian’s passion for the ocean started young, from building sandcastles for hermit crabs to now studying the species that call coldwatershome.
JILLIANTAYLOR
MemorialUniversity, MasterStudentfor WildlifeBiology
ProfessionalAssociation ofDivingInstructors (PADI),Ambassadiver
Fun Fact: Jillstarted studyingprimatesin Paraguay,butnowisa seabirdscientist.Shealso reallylovespeanutbutter.
STAY
CONNECTED!
2025SUMMERCAMP
Thisweek-long adventureincludesasail ontheSpiritofDana Point,4-hourresearch cruiseaboardtheR/V SeaExplorer,creating andconductinga researchproject.This campwillalsoguide participantsthrough resumebuilding, internshiporcareer applications,writinga coverletterand engaginginleadership andteambuilding activities.Learnmoreat theQRcodebelow!
VOLUNTEERATOCEAN INSTITUTE!
Are you interested in making a difference? Ourdedicatedteamofvolunteershelpsthe Ocean Institute teach through hands-on experiences every day! With a variety of specialized volunteer roles, we are sure to haveanopportunitythatisjustrightforyou A complete list of descriptions and minimumqualificationsareoutlinedonour website!
OCEAN INSTITUTE INTERNSHIPS
Internships at the Ocean Institute go from Fall to Spring with an intern showcase in the first part of June. All are invitedtoattendthis showcase! Interns will gain hands on experience and a deep connection to Marine Science. Applications open in July 2025. Learn moreattheQRcode above!