SE #2 – Haley Davis on SeaKeepers’ mission to advance marine citizen science (S1:Ep2)

In this episode of Science Engaged, Dr. Kristel Tjandra speaks with Citizen Science Manager, Haley Davis, from the International SeaKeepers Society, an ocean conservation nonprofit that advances marine research by engaging the yachting community. Davis explains how private vessels can serve as research platforms through citizen science programs and scientist-led expeditions, including contributions to the Seabed 2030 effort to map the world’s ocean floor.

She shares key insights with me on how distributed vessel participation expands data collection, why well-designed protocols enable non-scientists to gather usable data, and why many boat owners choose to support research. She also discusses practical challenges, including aligning expectations between scientists and yacht crews, protecting private vessels during fieldwork, and addressing skepticism about the quality of citizen-generated data.