Reaching Out to Politicians and International Adaptation of Motion4TheOcean

Twitter/X: @EG_Cunningham           

Instagram:  @marinebiologylife          

Emily Cunningham specializes in inclusive conservation, which involves promoting inclusivity in projects, practices, policies, and governance. Throughout their career, they have noticed a lack of inclusivity in the field of conservation and are passionate about addressing this issue. One of their notable projects is Seascapes, which aimed to engage deprived communities in England in ocean conservation. Through this work, they have gained a deep understanding of the complex reasons why certain groups are not involved in marine conservation efforts. They firmly believe that by making conservation more inclusive, diverse perspectives, energy, ideas, and passion can be tapped into, leading to greater success in conservation programs. They have also actively participated in organizations that prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion, working to drive change within these organizations. They emphasize the importance of having an external perspective to identify areas where diversity, inclusivity, and equity may be lacking. Overall, their niche revolves around promoting inclusivity in conservation efforts and recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and experiences.

In the episode, it is mentioned that science communication has experienced significant growth in recent years, providing new opportunities for those interested in sharing scientific knowledge. The speaker notes that a decade ago, science communication was not as prominent unless one was on television. However, new areas and opportunities in science communication have emerged since then. The speaker's own interest in science communication was sparked by listening to the stories of different scientists and wanting to share those stories with others. This suggests a growing recognition of the importance of storytelling and sharing scientific knowledge with the public. Additionally, the speaker discusses the use of social media, podcasting, and videos as platforms for science communication, indicating that there are now more avenues available for reaching a wider audience. Overall, the episode suggests that the field of science communication has expanded and evolved, offering new possibilities for individuals to engage in sharing scientific knowledge.

The episode delves into the challenges of working independently and highlights three main obstacles: financial pitching, visibility and self-promotion, and achieving a comfortable work-life balance.

One challenge mentioned is financial pitching. The transcript emphasizes the importance of finding the right level to pitch oneself financially, particularly in terms of determining the appropriate daily rate to charge. It is noted that many individuals, especially women, tend to undervalue their services. The speaker stresses the significance of transparency in rates to avoid undercutting oneself and to assist others who are starting their independent work journey.

Another challenge discussed is visibility and self-promotion. The transcript reveals that the speaker initially had reservations about putting themselves out there and promoting their availability and services. However, they recognized the importance of being visible to attract opportunities and clients. The speaker mentions strategies such as actively sharing their work, creating a website, and utilizing social media to increase visibility and promote their services.

The third challenge highlighted is achieving a comfortable work-life balance. The transcript acknowledges that one of the reasons people choose to work independently is for flexibility, but it can be easy to lose that flexibility as work demands increase. The speaker shares their experience of initially filling up their schedule with work but realizing that it was impacting their desired flexibility. They emphasize the importance of balancing short-term, short-notice work with maintaining the desired flexibility in one's life.

Overall, the episode underscores the challenges that come with working independently, including financial pitching, visibility and self-promotion, and achieving a comfortable work-life balance.