Empowering the Next Generation of Women: BIOS Hosts the Black Girls Dive Foundation

Since its establishment in 2017, the Black Girls Dive Foundation (BGDF) has been dedicated to "Keeping Young Girls & Women Afloat" as part of its leading mission. BGDF offers a variety of initiatives and projects designed to engage young girls and women in scientific and environmental pursuits. Among these are shark research and conservation efforts, as well as participation in projects such as Project CORAL (Collaborative Ocean Research and Leadership), Project CORE (Collaborative Oyster Restoration and Education), and Project Trailblazer, which involves participants learning how to be champions for the environment. These programs provide opportunities for girls to ignite their academic and career-based interests in scientific fields. Founded by Dr. Nevada Winrow and co-founder Taylor-Symon Winrow in Maryland, USA, BGDF is an educational non-profit organization which has set out to address the three critical issues of: “the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap that undermines [our] ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity; the limited or restricted sense of youth agency and voice; and the cultivation of the next generation of scientists, conservationists, and planetary stewards.”

In early June of this year, we welcomed a group of nine BGDF scholars and five educators on a week-long field course to Bermuda. The curriculum was rich with marine and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-based learning, including educational dives on Bermuda’s coral reefs and shipwrecks. The students utilized the ASU BIOS campus and our scientific research as they jumped into the world of underwater robotics, wildlife tagging through virtual reality, and fieldwork involving microplastic sampling at Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve. Further, the group surveyed Bermuda’s diverse fish species and explored the cultural, historical, and educational facets of the island.

This experience was nothing short of transformative for Sojo West-Seabrook, a scholar of BGDF. Her involvement with ASU BIOS has opened her eyes to the many divisions of STEM, and she noted a particular interest in building prototypes and the operation of ROV (remotely operated vehicle) models following her experience with us. Reflecting on her time in Bermuda, Sojo praised the “no worries'' mentality locals have adopted. She said, “Not a confident diver? No worries, Ms. Kyla and Captain Chris will make sure you are safe and comfortable. Had a hard day and the Bermuda sun is getting to you? No worries, Ms. Georgia will be very accommodating and make sure you are hydrated. The feeling of community on the island brings so much joy when I look back on the trip. Everyone at ASU BIOS worked hard to ensure that BGDF had a smooth, educational, fantastic trip, and it did not go unnoticed. I want to adopt that no worries mindset and I'll be looking to establish that sense of community that we found on the campus everywhere I go. If given the opportunity I'd experience ASU BIOS again ten times over.”

Courtlandt Butts, an instructor and educator from The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), joined the group and subsequently commended Dive Safety Officer Kyla Flook and Small Boats and Dock Manager Chris Flook on the group's safe and informative experience on board. Courtlandt noted, “They too were very accommodating, each skilled in their craft, and that helped us to navigate happenings caused by current, winds, and waves. They are one of the best teams that I have worked with.”

Dr. Winrow expressed immense gratitude for the warm hospitality and exceptional support provided by the entire ASU BIOS team and said, “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ASU BIOS and creating more opportunities for our scholars in the future.” We look forward to hosting BGDF in future years and supporting BGDF’s ongoing efforts to empower young girls and women, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue careers in science and environmental stewardship, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.