Empowering Youth in STEM: Danni Washington's Journey

Danni Washington knew from a young age that she loved the ocean, but she could never have envisioned then the life she’d be living today as a widely recognized science communicator and ocean advocate, not to mention the first African American woman to host her own science-focused television show. As a shy Jamaican American girl growing up in Miami, there weren’t exactly a lot of role models for her in marine biology, and many of the technologies she utilizes today, such as social media, didn’t exist. Washington, who was a featured speaker at ISTELive24, has had to find her own way, taking advantage of opportunities as they arose and blazing a path.

Although she holds a degree in marine biology, Washington chose to prioritize education over research: “I knew my unique skills could help build a bridge between the academic and science communities and the general public. I could take difficult information and bring it to the masses in a way that was more digestible and accessible.”

Washington now spreads her messages about marine life and ocean regeneration to the world through speaking engagements, TV specials and series (including “Xploration Nature Knows Best” and “Ocean Invaders” ), podcasts, blogs, and even a retreat for budding mermaids and their adults, which she hosts through her passion project, Mocha Mermaid.

It’s not surprising that Washington makes her career connecting with people about her passion for science; she lights up when she talks about the ocean, and her enthusiasm is hard to resist. But she is quick to acknowledge the people and experiences that have led her to this place where she can do what she loves and educate people about the causes she believes in. And she is equally passionate about helping kids start their own learning journeys.

When asked about her advice for engaging young people, especially those from marginalized communities, in STEM careers, Washington highlighted three key areas: exposure and access, mentorship and role models, and technology.

Gaining Exposure and Access

Growing up in Miami, Washington remembers spending a lot of family time at the beach. She credits those early experiences for nurturing her passion for the ocean and early interest in marine biology.

“It was one of those family rituals that we would spend quality time near the water,” Washington recalls. “Those are some of my favorite memories. Right around the age of six or seven, just as I was starting to learn about formal science in school, I realized that I wanted to know more about the ocean and specifically about marine life.”

This was during the 90’s, so she didn’t yet have access to a wealth of information online. Instead, her curiosity led her to dig deeper via her local library and nature documentaries on TV. She began to wonder what she could do for a career that would allow her to spend as much time as possible in the ocean. And while her first thought may have been to become a mermaid, something she still explores through Mocha Mermaid, her father helped bring things into focus. He explained that studying life in the ocean is called marine biology. She knew from that moment what she wanted to do.

In high school, Washington was fortunate enough to attend a magnet program at a local public school focused on marine science. During that time, she participated in numerous field trips to local beaches, working with scientists and doing water quality testing. But it was a dual enrollment college credit program during her senior year focused on creating GIS (Geographic Information System) maps that deepened her STEM path.

That year, Washington and her peers used their newly developed GIS skills as interns for a grad student researching great white sharks in South Africa. Just after graduation, as the culmination of their work, the group flew to South Africa to see the sharks in person, serving as field assistants and researchers.

“That trip changed the course of my entire life,” Washington shares. “We not only saw the sharks up close; we saw them in their natural predation patterns when they were hunting for seals. It was nature at its rawest, and we were in awe because it was something we’d only seen on TV.”

The experience fed Washington’s scientific curiosity and inspired something else: “I thought traditional research and academia would be a great route for my future. But I also realized the power of storytelling and bringing these experiences in the wild, especially in the open ocean, back to shore and sharing them with people I love. And, not just people I love, but anybody willing to listen.”

Washington recognizes that not all kids have access to the ocean or even nature. This is part of what inspired her to co-found Big Blue & You, a nonprofit that helps kids in Miami – and beyond – explore the wonders of the ocean and marine life while also engaging in conservation and regeneration efforts.

Finding Mentors and Role Models

While Washington’s parents played a significant role in her career path, she gives a lot of credit to the mentors and role models in her life: “One of the biggest things that can catalyze following a passion, no matter what it is, is to find someone who already has experience in that field who can give you some guidance and point you in the right direction.”

Her first mentor was a science teacher at her high school: “Ted Davis helped me understand what an academic career looks like in marine science,” Washington explains. “What are the other opportunities out there? But the most important thing he taught me was this love for adventure and that the ocean was the perfect place to go on adventures.”

She also acknowledges that, even with accessibility to email and social media, it’s not always easy to find a mentor. Washington suggests actively seeking out and researching role models.

“As a young person, I wanted to know what was possible. But at that time, I couldn’t find anyone in marine science or marine biology I saw myself in,” she reflects. “I had to get creative. I found Dr. Sylvia Earle, a pioneering female marine scientist and oceanographer who completely changed how we talk about the ocean. She’s a wonderful storyteller and has been doing it her whole career.”

Washington encourages young people to read everything they can about their role models and to learn from their challenges, as well as their accomplishments and discoveries. Using those challenges and successes as a launchpad, kids can consider how to take their achievements to the next level.

Tapping Into Educational Technology

Not every young person can travel to other countries, see great white sharks in person, or visit the ocean. And even visiting with experts in a field of study can be a challenge.

For this reason, Washington encourages kids to take advantage of the wide array of communication channels now available to pursue their interests and not be limited by geographic distance.

Washington spreads her own message on television and via in-person speaking engagements, as well as on her blogs, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and whatever other channels she can find. Using as many platforms and technologies as possible makes her message more accessible to a broader audience.

Washington suggests that teachers can help students pursue or explore new STEM interests by utilizing a wide range of available technology tools: “If you’re within the four walls of your own classroom, there are still exciting ways to share stories. Incorporating edtech is a primary way for us to effectively share science and lived experiences with students who may not have access.”

One example Washington cites is The Hydrous, a company that uses virtual reality technology to take people on virtual dives to swim with manta rays or compare healthy and bleached coral reefs. And virtual field trips aren’t limited to ocean views. Students can partake in virtual nature hikes, cultural tours, and even a chance to sit in the cockpit of a spacecraft as it readies for launch.

Washington says, “I think technology is a portal or a pathway toward adventure and asking more questions. And if we can at least get our students and educators back to that childlike curiosity, that, to me, is success.”

In the end, Washington credits educators for supporting her on her journey: “I wouldn’t be where I am today and doing what I’m doing if it weren’t for the educators in my life who believed in me, saw that I had potential and capacity, and opened doors for me along the way.”

Through her work, Washington hopes to nurture the next generation of marine scientists who will study and advocate for the ocean.

“A huge facet to why I do what I do is just to be visible,” she says, “to make sure that anyone who wants to try this out, who wants to be an explorer, who is a truth seeker, and who is a curious person, can get involved in this type of adventure with science and storytelling. I want to see more young marine scientists blossom all over the world.”

Christy Matte is the editor for the ISTE blog. She is passionate about lifelong learning, supporting and mentoring young people, and the power of technology as a tool for self-expression. She holds an M.Ed. in Technology in Education from Lesley University and has shared her joy for creative technological pursuits with kids and adults from Manhattan to Manila.

Image sources: Andre Musgrove and danniwashington.com