ATLANTA, GA - December 10, 2024 - The team at Black in Marine Science (BIMS) is excited to announce the publication of the Black in Marine Science Blueprint in the October 2024 issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology. In this issue, each paper features and is authored by at least one member of BIMS’ staff and community, representing a tremendous stride forward, both for BIMS and Black marine scientists in general, in their efforts to achieve greater visibility and opportunities in an industry in which they are seriously underrepresented.
BIMS is a non-profit organization advocating for racial equity within marine sciences and working to amplify Black voices in environmental research and conservation. Through the hard work and advocacy of the BIMS team, the field can celebrate Black marine scientists, spread environmental awareness, and inspire the next generation of scientific thought leaders.
The mission of BIMS is to highlight the importance of Black scientists in the marine science community and advocate for adequate representation. In the Black in Marine Science Blueprint, BIMS outlines the systemic inequalities that have historically excluded Black talent from the marine sciences and explores the solutions implemented or developed to inspire greater accessibility and representation.
BIMS is led by founder and CEO Dr. Tiara Moore, a dynamic leader dedicated to creating equity in marine science. Having earned her Ph.D. from UCLA, Dr. Moore specializes in studying the impacts of human nutrient pollution on marine ecosystems. She has led over $8 million in NSF grant-funded research and, in 2020, launched “Black in Marine Science Week” to highlight and amplify Black voices in the field and encourage younger generations. In the years since, BIMS has become a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with over 550 members from 34 countries.
“BIMS is making waves by tackling systemic and cultural issues that have historically excluded Black talent from marine science,” explains Dr. Moore. “This article outlines actionable solutions we have developed to drive meaningful change.”
Another key paper published in the October 2024 BIMS issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology was co-authored by Dr. Moore and Lynnette Adams, MFA, MA — Director of Development at BIMS — titled “The Joy Factor: Redefining Leadership Excellence at Black in Marine Science through Joy-Centered Leadership Practices.” This paper highlights how “the integration of joy-centered leadership principles has emerged as a transformative blueprint for empowering leaders and fostering inclusive environments” at BIMS, explores the organization’s “integration of the Formula for Joy (F4J) model” and provides “a comprehensive overview of its principles and practices.”
In the October 2024 BIMS issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology, Dr. Moore and her team detail BIMS's work in improving representation in marine science. Their article outlines actionable steps leaders in the industry can take “to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in scientific spaces with the goal of ocean justice for all.”
“Beyond what BIMS has done inside the organization, joy-centered partnerships and direct membership feedback have led to the development of this entire journal issue,” says Dr. Moore. “Dedicated to highlighting the scientific achievements of BIMS scholars, the BIMS issue is a manifestation of the outcomes achieved once the BIMS Blueprint is successfully implemented.”
By reading the BIMS article in the newest issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology, readers can learn about the scientific achievements of BIMS scholars and other Black marine scientists and be part of manifesting the outcome of greater diversity in the field by implementing the steps outlined in the Black in Marine Science Blueprint.
“Marine science is widely recognized as one of the least diverse fields within geoscience,” Dr. Moore adds. “Despite substantial investments in diversity initiatives and resources aimed at engaging underserved communities, the representation and recognition of Black individuals in marine science remain limited. This lack of representation highlights a broader issue: a shortage of professionals attuned to the pressing issues within Black communities.”
To learn more about the work that Black in Marine Science (BIMS) is doing to advocate for greater diversity in marine science, please visit their website at https://www.blackinmarinescience.org/. You can read the Black in Marine Science Blueprint at https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/64/4/1055/7771558.
About BIMS:
Founded by Dr. Tiara Moore, Black In Marine Science (BIMS) is a non-profit organization that advocates for racial equity within marine sciences and works to amplify Black voices in environmental research and conservation. Dr. Moore, an esteemed marine scientist with a Ph.D. from UCLA, specializes in studying the impacts of human nutrient pollution on marine ecosystems. She is widely recognized for her work, leading over $8 million in NSF-funded research and creating community programs combining environmental DNA (eDNA) research with educational outreach. Her impactful contributions have garnered accolades from prominent platforms like Vogue Magazine and the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, which honored her as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Champion.
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