(Koror, Palau –October 10, 2024) — Nine Palauan early career professionals were selected to participate in a new training fellowship for culturally grounded ocean science communication and public outreach. Congratulations to all the Palauan Voices in Ocean Exploration Fellows!
Mireia Batlle Canalias — Communications and Outreach Officer, PICRC
Rebecca Carey — Communications and Outreach Officer, PICRC
Lucy E. Dickie — Communications and Outreach Officer, PICRC
Whittney Elmer — Associate Consultant, ESRI
Porse Greps — Project Officer, Palau Conservation Society
Minelli Olkeriil — Project Coordinator, Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary
Antoni Soalablai — Communications Director, Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary
Chloe Yano — Multimedia Artist
Telbakes Yano — Visual Artist
The Palauan Voices in Ocean Exploration program is a three-month fellowship designed to empower participants from Palau with a passion for ocean conservation as well as scientifically and culturally grounded storytelling. This program, a collaboration between the Ocean Exploration Trust and the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), provides a blend of virtual and in-person training, hands-on experiences, and mentorship opportunities to equip participants with skills, knowledge, and experience in culturally rooted science communication/storytelling practices and techniques.
Since August, the training experience has included sessions on topics such as crafting personal/ocean science/conservation narratives, techniques for multimedia and visual storytelling, and weaving Palauan knowledge into science-focused storytelling. The program will culminate with a workshop in Koror October 25-26 with each participant working afterward on projects that build ocean and cultural connection.
The program is made possible through support from the National Geographic Society and complements fall 2024 Lebuu’s Voyage deep ocean exploration expeditions aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel Nautilus. During these expeditions, Palauans of all ages are invited to explore the deep ocean depths of Palau National Marine Sanctuary through live streams at NautilusLive.org. Learn more about this program and others at https://NautilusLive.org/Palau.