Megan Cook: Deep-Sea Explorer and Science Communicator

Tell us about yourself!

When a friend called me an enthusiasm-volcano I absolutely loved the compliment!  I am a curious person whose love for oceans has brought me from the chaparral of Idaho around the globe helping serve as an ambassador for life in the salty parts of the planet. I collect googley eyed kitchen gadgets and will pick sugary candy over chocolate 101 times out of 100!  

I really like to learn new things and work in teams to try new challenges which has included becoming a fitness instructor and more recently learning to build homes and constructing eight houses in two years. I learned to scuba dive after my first year of college while home for the summer. The dives took place in a reservoir in Idaho where there were many more tires than fish. Throughout college I was able to take scuba courses through the Health and Human Services department’s physical activity courses, which helped me pay for training classes and build up my skills slowly. The scuba skills gained on weekends with classmates helped me land my first diving job out of college working on a marine debris mitigation team in Hawaii. I loved being in a tropical place where my work was to be in the ocean every day and I picked up lots of jobs to make it work for me to stay.  Over the next few years, I worked for ecotourism companies helping other people fall in love with the ocean, volunteered with local organizations, and was very proud to be part of helping restore coral reefs in an invasive species mitigation team. 

My career took a large step forward in both marine operations and science communication as the North American Rolex Scholar of the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society in 2012. This program helps support young leaders in career mentoring and scuba training. Working with researchers, documentary film teams, private companies, and conservationists from skyscraper kelp beds to Antarctic iceberg scours I found such excitement in capturing their stories. I took another leap taking this passion for storytelling beyond my fin depths into the deep sea joining the Ocean Exploration Trust team in 2014. I wanted to help roll back the mystery of working on a ship and to help people connect to the wonderful professionals who make the work possible.

Can you share more about your work?

As a deep ocean explorer, I work in a team using remotely operated vehicles and multibeam mapping technology to investigate the seafloor and deep ocean biome. Our nonprofit organization Ocean Exploration Trust seeks out discoveries from the 95% of the ocean which remains unexplored and uncharacterized working across disciplines in biology, geology, marine archaeology, geochemistry, technology development, and media. The work has exciting challenges in it to stay knowledgeable about so many disciplines, but I find it very rewarding to blend these storylines together. 

I work as part of the storytelling arm of the team as Manager of Education Partnerships and Programs overseeing a suite of at-sea and onshore education programs that connect audiences to the deep sea and the role models who work on our ship E/V Nautilus. This includes developing fun activities to connect and challenge students to learn more about the seafloor, connecting live broadcasts into classrooms from the ship, embedding educators and students in at-sea teams, and exploring new ways to link audiences with the seafloor through live streams and social media.  

I travel frequently as a public speaker to teach others and bring ocean exploration discoveries to schools and communities. I am passionate about helping researchers and our larger team, the Corps of Exploration, accurately and passionately communicate science and technology stories from sea. I love that my work involves so many different things including project management, travel, and sailing on our research vessel leading the communications teams throughout the year.

Previously in my career, I focused on shallower-water neighborhoods in the ocean as a scuba diver in scientific research, marine debris cleanup, conservation education, and documentary film teams. I love scuba diving and freediving for the transportation they offer to another world and the feeling of being surrounded by water. I always feel really present when the ocean splashes cool water on your face as you descend.  

How did you become interested in studying the ocean?

Lots of six-year-olds want to be marine biologists; I was definitely one of them! The ocean seemed really far away from my house in Idaho, but the creatures that lived there were wacky and fascinating! My first-grade teacher brought all kinds of ocean resources into her teaching. My parents and grandparents also had a lot to do with my interest since they raised an active, outdoor family. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing in local parks, hiking off the beaten path, camping by lakes and streams, and being sent outside to run around basically every day. Those settings helped me learn to observe nature in detail and to ask good questions which is exactly what being a scientist is all about.

From that curious spark, I headed for the only ocean path I knew existed - marine science. I now understand there are SO many different paths I could have followed to end up working in the ocean. Studying biological science is only one road to this life. Whatever you are passionate about: science, storytelling, business, finance, art, engineering, cooking, political science, all these things could lead you towards working for an ocean organization or being involved in marine projects. 

What do you wish everyone knew about the ocean?

My favorite discovery we’re going to make is the next one! We are still learning about this planet and everyone can be part of that. The spark of discovery never gets old for me. Every day we put the ROVs into the water my team and I, including learners all over the world, can discover and experience something entirely new. I love that the ocean houses 99+% of the habitable space on the planet, that coral colonies can grow to be over 4,000 years old, and that armies of sea pigs are marching across the seabed recycling marine snow, and that skates incubate their eggs at hydrothermal vent hot springs.  From a governance and policy perspective, I also am impressed that 50% of the United States is actually underwater since the country is ringed by a 200 nautical mile buffer zone - like a pool floatie ring around our coast - called the Exclusive Economic Zone.  

With your work, what do you hope to accomplish/discover/learn? OR with your work, how does it apply to our lives?

This planet is salty and blue, even though you and I spend most of our time on the dry and dusty parts of it! My work helps understand this planet by investigating the massive regions of it that have not yet been visited and well explained. Through that novelty and the excitement of discovery, we inspire the next generation of explorers, but also help people develop a connection to far-away, hard-to-reach corners of Earth.  

Although the deep ocean habitats are very different from our natural habitats, they are spectacular, filled with highly-adapted species that make their living in unique ways (hydrogen sulfide for lunch, anyone?) and support biodiversity beyond our expectations. We can learn about ourselves by discovering lifeforms that model the origins of life on this planet and others. We can test ourselves by developing new techniques, tools, and stretching teamwork to be more innovative and efficient. Managing an ocean system that we don’t yet understand is a massive challenge. I love the process of exploration because it continues to give a clearer picture about the diversity and function of our oceans and informs how we can creatively and sustainably care for the planet, the way it supports us. 

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

Sylvia Earle gave me a wonderfully encouraging and very plain piece of advice that I would pass along to anyone who loves the planet. When I told her I hoped to grow my career to help the oceans as she had, she asked me, “What are you waiting for?”. I smiled politely but I honestly didn't have an answer. Everyone has a unique set of talents. Perhaps you’re a great writer, or speaker, or community organizer, or TikTok dancer. Perhaps you’re the friend who always knows the new restaurant to try, the one who encourages others to read the great book you just finished, or the person who loves strolling along your local waterway keeping it clean. In the same way, we all have unique talents, we can put those talents to work to influence those around us and help the planet. If you feel like you need someone’s permission to get started, let me be the one who grants that to you, the same way Dr. Earle nudged me forward. You’re ready and the world needs you!

Please share a favorite memory from your work!

One of my most memorable moments at work was sitting watching the monitors streaming live footage from the ROVs beneath the ship as a juvenile sperm whale swam right in front of the lens. You can watch the whole thing here (https://nautiluslive.org/video/2015/04/15/rare-sperm-whale-encounter-rov) This keeps me ready to be surprised by what we might encounter next and I love that possibility! It comes back to me every time I hear from a student, teacher, or everyday explorer who has just seen something new for the first time on our livestream. 

You can follow along with Megan’s adventures here: Join Megan and team on the seafloor on E/V Nautilus 24/7 at www.NautilusLive.org.  Try their fun quiz to get sorted into the at-sea job that’s best for you and check out the career video series to learn more about joining the team!

Find Megan online at www.megan-cook.com or on Twitter at @MeganAtSeaCook

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

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!