Aliyah Griffith: Marine Scientist, CEO and Founder of MAhogany Mermaids

Hi Aliyah, tell us about yourself!

I love everything in the water and have been swimming since I was young. My favorite food is Caribbean food. I consider curry chicken, oxtail, rice and peas, etc. to be my ultimate comfort food. I love animals and am surrounded by them at not only work but at home. I have a dog named Darth who just turned 1. I began swimming at a young age and eventually took lessons at a local sports complex. I didn't learn to snorkel or dive until I was a sophomore in college right before an internship.

Can you share your story of creating Mahogany Mermaids and your current coral research at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill?

Mahogany Mermaids was created while I​ was completing an internship between my sophomore and junior year. It showed me all the possibilities of research, traveling, and learning of new cultures across the world, and I thought that everyone should have the same opportunity. Without that internship I would have never known what it truly meant to be a marine scientist. I then created a nonprofit to promote and uplift children of color to get involved in the aquatic sciences. 

My current research at UNC is addressing the influence of hurricanes on the skeletal growth of coral. I am specifically looking at Hurricane Irma and how it impacted the calcification, extension, and density of two coral species along the Florida Keys Reef Tract.

How did you become interested in studying the ocean?

My family is from the Caribbean and I've been going back since I was about four years old. From the Caribbean blue sea to the east coast beaches in the states, I was always near water, but never knew how to go about pursuing my curiosity. At 14, I was able to participate in a shadowing program at the Georgia Aquarium and fell in love—and ultimately stuck with—marine science as my career.

What do you wish everyone knew about the ocean?

We need the ocean more than it needs us! I can't stress that enough. We have only explored about 5% of the ocean even though it covers 70% of earth. With our current practices, we are not allowing a sustainable living space for even the 5% we know of, so just imagine what could be occurring in the other 95%. During the pandemic we have seen changes in water and air quality just from humans not moving as much and I feel that we should always keep that in mind so that we aren't aiding in the destruction of our home. 

How does your work apply to our lives?

Coral reef ecosystems are essential for humans due to their biodiversity, attraction for ecotourism, and the protection they offer from storms. As a result of climate change, certain storms, such as hurricanes, will become more frequent and more intense. I am researching how coastal ecosystems will be impacted by this change and if the hurricanes can impact the growth of the reefs themselves. This could mean smaller or weaker reefs resulting in more destructive waves reaching coastal communities. 

What is some of the best advice you have received from mentors? What advice do you have for young scientists, artists, and explorers?

The best "advice" I received was "Great, so how do you want to do this?". It sounds weird but it was just respect and support. The mentors that I cherish the most gave me hope and someone to lean on for guidance and security when others were trying to break down my potential. They always let me know that it wouldn't be easy, but they always reminded me that I could do it.

"Never let anyone put a question mark where you put a period" - anonymous

I heard this quote years ago and it always stuck with me. When you know or find your passion and you trust your instincts, do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. They may say you aren't smart enough; this wouldn't be a good fit for you, or even that you can't complete something because of how demanding or hard it can be. You know yourself better than anyone else and you determine your own fate.

Please share a favorite memory from your research!

My favorite memory from my undergraduate research was the first day I went out to the fore reef. My group had just descended and as we turned a corner this big, beautiful reef was right under us. I had never seen so much coral and so many fish. There were sharks and rays and even a turtle and I just couldn't believe that the fishes just looked at us as another big fish and welcomed us into this whole new world. 

Thank you for sharing with us, Aliyah! Keep inspiring others and being a leader.

You can check out Aliyah’s website and follow her on Twitter (@cnidariannerd). Check out Mahogany Mermaids’ website and posts on Instagram (@mahoganymermaids) and Twitter (@MermaidsinSTEM).

We always love to be introduced to new ocean explorers. If there’s someone you’d like to see an interview from, send us your ideas!