Summary
In partnership with the Every Page Foundation (EPF), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the selection of their 2024 Ocean Decade Champions. Joining 21 other female scientists with this honor is Jingya Wang, a postdoctoral researcher based at the University of Delaware.
This monetary award is granted to women who contribute to NSF Coastlines and People (CoPe) projects, such as CHEER, that focus on coastline and community research. The United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, known as “Ocean Decade,” endorses CoPe programs.
The Ocean Decade initiative aims to promote ocean health by ensuring any development efforts are “sustainable and informed by science.” Its 10 Decade Challenges consist of a variety of foundational, high-impact goals to support their cause, including advocating for fair representation of women and other underrepresented groups in ocean science and decision-making.
In alignment with this principle, each female scientist has been awarded a grant ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 to support a variety of professional endeavors, including professional development opportunities, technical and communications training, and cross-disciplinary and intercultural scientific activities. The funding will also allow the 22 champions to extend their efforts far beyond their academic interests and pursue a unique ocean-themed endeavor of their own design.
A.R. Siders, who was selected as an Ocean Decade Champion in 2023, used the funds to create and host a nationwide climate-themed video game jam. This year, Wang will undertake a similar science communication endeavor: organizing a national coastal-themed video contest.
The competition will focus on exploring various aspects of coastal protection, such as hurricane risk modeling and decision-making under uncertainty. The program will also provide training from science communication experts and video production professionals to equip participants with the skills needed for creating high-quality videos.
In the coming weeks, the CHEER Hub will share further information about the contest, including eligibility, award incentives, and video requirements. The deadline for submissions is tentatively scheduled for August 2025, with winners announced in early fall.
For more information, see this press release from the National Science Foundation or visit the Ocean Decade website. Profiles of all 22 Ocean Decade Champions can be found here.
