Empowering Equity: Stony Brook Hosts Society for Women in Marine Science Symposium

Stony Brook University hosted the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) Symposium, drawing attendees from across the country. Photos courtesy of Tara Rider.

Stony Brook University welcomed marine scientists from across the country to the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) Symposium. The three-day event, held November 15-17, brought together 115 participants, including undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and professionals, to celebrate the achievements of women in marine science and foster connections to empower their careers.

Attendees came from New York, New England, and as far as Florida, Colorado, and South Carolina to attend the symposium, the first in-person event of its kind since a virtual gathering in 2022.

Tara Rider, faculty director of the environmental studies program and senior lecturer in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), organized the event after several of her students attended a SWMS event in 2019 and had a positive experience. Rider became the founder of the New York chapter of SWMS, helping to organize mentoring events and workshops.

"This is a field that has been very male-dominated, historically speaking," Rider said. "I think it's important to create events like that that allow for mentoring and networking, for women to see other women working in the field. It gives support and helps create spaces where we can see what we can do for each other and what we can do for that next generation."

The symposium kicked off Friday evening with a screening of Picture a Scientist, a documentary highlighting the challenges and successes of women in STEM. Following the screening, participants engaged in a discussion on fostering equity and inclusion in the scientific community.

Saturday offered attendees a schedule of workshops and panels on professional development, exploring career opportunities in academia, industry, government, and nonprofits. Experts shared their journeys and provided advice for navigating career paths in the field of marine science. Panelists emphasized the importance of building networks, adapting to challenges, and finding mentors to guide professional growth.

An organizational tabling event and poster session showcased opportunities with groups such as Peconic Baykeepers, the Surfrider Foundation, New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) and Gills Club.

The symposium wrapped up on Sunday with hands-on training workshops. Marine mammal stranding training, led by the NYMRC, provided participants with the tools to respond to real-world rescue challenges. Data analysis and visualization workshops focused on the R programming language, teaching attendees to apply advanced techniques in their research. A social media and resume-building session helped participants create their professional profiles to stand out in a competitive field.

"We don't want to just crack a glass ceiling," Rider concluded. "We want to give support so they can get to that ceiling."

- Beth Squire

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