The Marine Diaries – Telling stories of the ocean

By: Rebecca Daniel

Studying at Durham inspired me to get to where I am today, running a conservation organisation. My BSc in Biological Sciences gave me a solid foundation and understanding of biology, which was massively helpful when I went on to complete a MSc in Marine Biology. It was whilst at Durham that I got my first taste of conservation fieldwork. On my course’s field trip to a safari park in South Africa, I learnt how to collect field data, track animals, and identify different species. It was a fantastic way to see conservation in action. Through Durham, I was also able to gain experience during my summer holidays; volunteering with sea turtle conservation in Greece and working on bio-pesticides in the University’s biology lab.

There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit at Durham - from the students who run club nights to the large student-led events, such as the DU Fashion Show, PalatinAlps, and Aggression Sessions. It really showed me what is possible, and that running a business isn’t just for those who are already well established in their careers or industries.

Two like-minded marine biologists and I founded The Marine Diaries in December 2017. It’s a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to connect people with the ocean. We communicate ocean science using storytelling and digital media - bridging the education gap between the scientific community and the general public. Information alone rarely changes attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours. But stories have been around for the whole of human history. They are more engaging and memorable than facts and figures, and crucially, tap into our emotions.

In western society, a trend of industrialisation and urbanisation, combined with the rise of online and virtual entertainment has led to us spending almost all our time indoors. And, given more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, our ‘outdoors’ is increasingly man-made.

We have forgotten that we are part of the natural world, not separate from it.

This disconnect is a major barrier to environmental conservation because people tend to only protect what they care about; research shows that people without a connection to nature and an understanding of how we directly depend on (and influence) it, are less likely to take positive action on the environment.

Our team of voluntary storytellers (who are also scientists, journalists, and filmmakers) are dedicated to sharing science-based and action-led stories to change the hearts and minds of the public on key issues and inspire positive ocean action. Through our campaigns, projects, events, articles, and social media, we provide free, accessible resources to people of all ages and backgrounds - connecting people with the ocean, wherever they may be.

Collaboration is central to our philosophy. We work closely with strategic partners who share our vision, and collaborate with other ocean-friendly organisations, businesses, and individuals to deliver our projects. The Marine Diaries also acts as a platform to elevate the voices of others working towards ocean conservation.

To date, our largest project has been the Marine Ecosystem Diaries. Launched in 2021, this nine-month ocean literacy project highlighted the importance, threats, and conservation of nine different marine ecosystems - from coral reefs to mangrove forests. Through short films, illustrated posters, articles, social media, and digital events, we shed light on vital topics such as blue carbon, biodiversity, and the blue economy. With more than 130 collaborating artists, researchers, videographers, and NGOs, we provided educational materials to over 50,000 (and counting) students, educators, and organisations around the globe. The films have also been screened internationally at 7 festivals and are in 2 travelling programmes.

Now, we are working with one of our ‘1% for the Planet’ partners to turn this project into an e-learning course. We are also looking for partners to translate the materials into different languages, and funding to distribute them on the ground to communities in the Global South.

The Marine Diaries has come so far since its inception. Most recently, I was selected as a Regional Finalist in the Commonwealth Youth Awards which recognises young people who are making progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

I’m so proud to add this to the growing list of recognitions and awards. Previous achievements include:

• EU4Ocean Award 2022 - Winner of Community Engagement Award
• European Enterprise Awards 2022 - Winner 'Best Online Ocean Communication Experts - UK'
• P.E.A 2023 - Finalist for Influencer Award
• Ocean Awards 2022 - Finalist for Young Initiative Award