Watch: Scientists Inspire Students to Protect Local Marine Life

As part of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) 2025 Coral Reef Week marine scientists celebrated storytelling and the environment in coastal communities. At the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School on St. Thomas, Black in Marine Science (BIMS), Large-Scale CoPe: Strongs Coasts, and BlueGAP, hosted an exclusive screening featuring the documentaries: A Splash of Color, and Harm in the Water; along with shorts, and BIMS bites. The event brought together current and future leaders in ocean, coastal, and hazardous research and individuals who incorporate storytelling into their science to raise awareness and engage people in marine science.

 “I think there are multiple ways in which students learn about marine science. They learn by being in the sea, by reading, by actively participating in marine science events, and by various types of media. Video is of course a very popular learning method for today’s youth,” said Professor Maya Trotz, the Principal Investigator on the project. “The Litty Hour is something our project BlueGAP supports as we look to work in coastal communities around environmental learning. BlueGAP looks to connect communities upstream and downstream to address particular water quality issues. Currently, we have been working in three locations, St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tampa Bay, Florida, and the Mississippi River in Iowa.”