The Institute of Marine Affairs Celebrates Women and Girls in STEM
By Aleisha Dennie
In collaboration with IMA research staff
The International Day for Women and Girls in Science, observed annually on February 11, was established by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the critical role women play in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while promoting gender equality and inclusive participation. Despite progress, women currently represent only 26–28% of the global STEM workforce and approximately 35% of STEM graduates (UNESCO, n.d.).
Every year on February 11, the world observes the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, which serves as a significant reminder of the progress we have achieved, and the long journey still ahead or how far there is still to go. Globally, women make up just over a quarter of the STEM workforce, and about a third of graduates in these fields.
At the IMA, that global statistic feels very different on the ground.
Across laboratories, coastlines, and communities, women at the IMA are not only participating in science they are leading it.
Shaping How We Use Our Marine Space
From policy to planning, women are helping to guide how Trinidad and Tobago understands and manages its marine environment.
Researchers including Ms. Ruqayyah Thompson are at the forefront of regional initiatives such as the PROCARIBE+ Multisectoral Marine Spatial Planning Project, which is working toward a comprehensive plan for nearly 3,000 km² of national waters in the Gulf of Paria.
Supporting this work are efforts to build awareness and accessibility. As Curator of the Marine Reference Collection, Ms. Alana Jute plays a key role in marine biodiversity education, alongside community-based initiatives ranging from sea turtle conservation to stakeholder engagement and data sharing.
Science in Action Along Our Coastlines
Out in the field, women scientists and technical staff are helping to monitor and understand Trinidad and Tobago’s ever-changing coastal environment.
Through the Coastal Monitoring Project, professionals such as Ms. Isabelle Chen conduct field observations and drone-based shoreline assessments work that directly informs how we respond to erosion, development, and ecosystem changes.
Within the Geomatics Unit, a team including Ms. Nikia Gooding, Ms. Rayna Sookdeo, Ms. Malissa Moses, Ms. Julie McVorran, and Ms. Anastacia Auguste applies advanced tools such as LiDAR-equipped drones, satellite imagery, and laser scanning to capture geospatial data that aids resource management. Their work supports everything from oil spill response to tracking sargassum influxes and mapping blue carbon ecosystems—quietly powering some of the country’s most important environmental decisions.
From Fisheries to Food Security
In Fisheries and Aquaculture, women are tackling challenges that connect directly to both livelihoods and sustainability.
Dr. Farahnaz Solomon, Ms. Bria De Costa-Francis, Ms. Jerusha King, and Ms. Rosemarie Kishore contribute to projects spanning invasive species management, fisheries biology, and mariculture development. In Tobago, Dr. Solomon leads the Lionfish Fishpot Fishery Project, turning an ecological threat into an economic opportunity.
As Senior Research Officer within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Ms. Kishore has contributed extensively to fisheries research through studies on fish age and growth using otolith analysis, helping to improve understanding of commercially important species and fish population dynamics. Her work has also included research on invasive species such as the green mussel, which has since become naturalized in Trinidad and Tobago’s marine environment.
Their work also extends beneath the surface supporting SCUBA-based surveys, laboratory research, and initiatives such as MARIN and PROCARIBE, including reproductive assessments that advance oyster mariculture in Trinidad and Tobago.
Restoring Ecosystems, Working with Communities
Beyond research, women at the IMA are deeply involved in restoration and outreach.
The Marine Resilience Tobago (MARIN Tobago) project, a five-year programme funded by BP, focuses on coral and seagrass restoration while building meaningful community partnerships.
A predominantly women-led team including Dr. Anjani Ganase, Dr. Rahanna Juman, Ms. Hannah Lochan, Dr. Farahnaz Solomon, Ms. Lanya Fanovich-Mohammed, and Ms. Kathryn Audroing has successfully reared coral larvae, collected seagrass seeds, and carried out extensive community surveys across Tobago.
In 2025, Dr. Ganase also published Coral Reefs of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd Edition), contributing valuable insight into the country’s marine ecosystems and its management. Supporting this work, Ms. Kristen Clarke continues to advance seagrass biodiversity research through her role in blue carbon assessment.
Monitoring Our Marine Environment
Within the Environmental Quality Programme, long-standing contributions continue to shape national understanding of marine health.
Ms. Wendy Nelson, a Senior Research Officer with over 20 years of service, has led research on trace metals, sediment quality, and pollutant accumulation work that feeds directly into environmental policy and monitoring. Her leadership includes a national nearshore sediment quality research cruise and participation in regional initiatives such as the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) project.
Alongside Ms. Nelson, Ms. Aleisha Dennie contributes expertise in biochemistry, biotechnology, and analytical chemistry, supporting nutrient and heavy metal analysis for regional monitoring programmes. Her work extends to international collaboration, including representation in the Global Eutrophication Monitoring Pilot Project and coordination of Harmful Algal Bloom research at the Institute.
Leadership That Guides the Way Forward
At the leadership level, women continue to shape the direction of marine science and policy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr. Rahanna Juman, Deputy Director of the IMA, brings together scientific and legal expertise developed over more than three decades. Her work in marine governance includes chairing the National Sargassum Task Force and contributing to the IOCARIBE initiatives at the regional level.
Appointed in September 2023, Dr. Ava Maxam, Director of the IMA, continues to spearhead and guide the Institute’s growth into a data-driven centre of excellence. With a background in oceanography and nearly 20 years of management experience, her leadership continues to strengthen research, partnerships, and national capacity in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
A Collective Effort
Behind every project and field exercise is a wider network of support. The contributions of research secretaries Ms. Lisa Chadee and Mrs. Ramona O’Brian, along with many other dedicated staff members, remain essential to the Institute’s work.
Together, the women of the IMA reflect more than participation in STEM—they represent leadership, expertise, and a growing influence that continues to shape the future of marine science in Trinidad and Tobago.
Among those contributing to this work are:
Lisa Chadee, Kamini Ramkhelawan, Dawn Caesar, Shelly Ann Lynch, Arlene Johnson, Krystal Ganaselal, Alana Bachan, Marcia Powell, Jameela Karim-Dowlat, Nekeisha Christopher, Kimberlee Green, Andrea Peters-Robinson, Nisa Joseph-Browne, Amelia Williams, Tracey Guevara, Reena Ramdass, Trisha Constantine, Nialah Johnetty, Jordelle Benjamin, Anisha Alexis, Payaree Mattoo, Lorraine Barrow, Patrice Letren, Christine Thomas-Dookie, Kerrie Griffth and Nanyamkah Thomas.
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