about myself

For years, I have been fascinated with the ocean and its amazing diversity. I grew up in Colombia, a biodiversity hotspot which is one of the 21 countries that is fortunate to have in its territorial waters the two most important oceans in the world: the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. All of this gave me the opportunity to personally see a lot of wonderful and unexplored places full of marine wildlife.

As a Rescue Diver PADI with the specialization of TDI Nitrox, I have seen some of the threats that nowadays are affecting marine ecosystems such as climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, chemical and plastic pollution, sedimentation, and invasive species. Undoubtedly this only augmented my curiosity about how to work for the conservation of these amazing marine ecosystems.

I did a Bachelor's in Ecology in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia) and my Bachelor's thesis was about mercury concentrations and trophic relations in sharks of the Colombian Pacific. After graduating, I worked for two years in Malpelo and Other Marine Ecosystems Foundation, a Colombian non-governmental organization whose mission is to promote the protection and care of the marine and coastal areas in the country by contributing to the knowledge, conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources and biodiversity. During this professional experience, I supported conservation projects such as the identification and management of hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) nursery areas in the Colombian Pacific coast. Also, I could participate in scientific expeditions in the Eastern Tropical Pacific region, more specifically in the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, the largest marine protected area in Colombia.

Now, as a first-year student of the IMBRSea program, I have had the opportunity of realizing a two-month professional practice with an organization expert in a topic that I have always been very interested but I have never had the opportunity to work with: Marine Mammals Conservation. I feel very fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity of being part of such an experienced organization in the field of marine research as DMAD - Marine Mammals Research Association. This opportunity, not only made me increase my field and research skills, but also made me discovered another branch of marine conservation that I would like to work on in the future. Also, thanks to the love for what DMAD's team do and their experienced career paths, they encourage all the interns to continue the path of marine research and conservation.