This week was #BlackInMarineScienceWeek and it was a wonderful week to be introduced to marine scientists from all over the world who are black. These marine scientists may have felt excluded from the traditionally white, male-dominated field in the past, but this week was to increase the visibility of black marine scientists, showcase the great work that they do in various parts of the field with the goal of inspiring the younger generations and the next great marine scientists.  In this episode, I discuss the new colleagues and friends that I met throughout the week, including the three young and bright scientists that I interviewed for Monday (Ep. 1088) and Wednesday's (episode 1089) episodes. I talk about the role their mother's played in their path to becoming a Marine Scientist.  I also discuss the importance of black marine scientists to inspire the next generation of black marine scientists using two real-life examples of how people followed their dreams because they saw someone that looked like them be there first and become a leader in their field.  All of the black marine scientists who were a part of this week have become leaders that black children are looking at today and happy to know there are Marine Scientists that look like them and they, too, can become marine scientists.  More information on the Black In Marine Science Website: https://blackinmarsci.github.io/ Instagram: @BlackInMarineScience - https://www.instagram.com/blackinmarinescience/   Twitter: @BlackInMarSci - https://twitter.com/BlackinMarSci   Register for the Mindful Conservation Conference:  https://www.absolutelysmashingllc.com/mindful-conference Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Marine Conservation Happy Hour Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk Madame CuriosityApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2xUlSax Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2V38QQ1 ConCiencia Azul: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf Dugongs & Seadragons: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt Environmental Studies & Sciences Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh Marine Mammal Science: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL Projects For Wildlife Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Oc17gy Spotify: https://spoti.fi/37rinWz Ocean Science RadioApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3chJMfA Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bnkP18 The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/31P4UY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3f7hDJw