After six months of being the Outreach Volunteer for the Living Oceans Foundation, where I created informative social media content like the “All About Mangroves” and “The Ocean & Us” video series, I’m excited to share my next step! I’m embarking on a new journey as the Outreach & Communication Assistant and the “Empowering Women in Hydrography (EWH)” Project Assistant for the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Secretariat.

For those who don’t know, hydrography is all about measuring and describing the physical features of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. It also helps predict how these features might change over time. The main goal is to keep navigation safe, but it also supports other activities like economic growth, security, research, and protecting the marine environment.

Based on this, the IHO was created to ensure that all the world’s seas, oceans, and navigable waters are properly surveyed and charted. Since 1921, the IHO has played a crucial role in coordinating the activities of national hydrographic offices and promoting uniformity in nautical charts and maritime products.

My New Role at the IHO Secretariat

In this new position, I’ll be actively supporting the EWH project, alongside assisting with the IHO Secretariat’s Public Relations and Communications initiatives. I’m thrilled to continue along my path in science communication, working to raise public awareness of ocean knowledge and the critical role of scientific advancements.

Continuing My Passion for Ocean Knowledge

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to stay immersed in the world of science communication, a field that I’m deeply passionate about. This new role allows me to not only promote gender balance in hydrography but also to further share my love for ocean literacy with a wider audience.

I am looking forward to continuing to contribute to ocean literacy and raising awareness about the vital role our oceans play in shaping our world. I’m also deeply grateful to the Living Oceans Foundation for providing me with the skills, experience, tools, and lessons that will help me succeed in this new role.

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation would like to thank Luz for volunteering to work with us this year, and for everything she has done for the Foundation during her time with us. We wish her luck in her new role and are thrilled she was able to secure such a wonderful position in her field.