Empowering Pacific Women in Science: A Story of Passion and Perseverance

My name is Mary Sine, and I am a 21-year-old university student from Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. I would like to share my story about how I became fascinated with science and decided to pursue a postgraduate degree in environmental and fishery biology.

Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of education and worked tirelessly to pay for my school fees and those of my two brothers. I am grateful for their sacrifice and for all the hardworking parents out there.

My educational journey began in kindergarten on the mainland of Efate. I then moved to Pentecost Island for grades 1-4 before transferring to Santo Island for grades 5-10. I attended Malapoa College on Efate for grades 11 and 12. It was there that I had to choose between three streams of subjects: arts, science, and commerce. Initially, I wanted to pursue the arts stream and become a lawyer, but my father encouraged me to choose science since we lacked science professionals in our family. With his dream in mind, I chose science and fell in love with chemistry and biology.

From 2020 to 2022, I attended Emalus University in Vanuatu, completing 100, 200, and part of 300 level courses for a Bachelor of Science degree. I then finished the remaining 300 level courses at Laucala campus in Fiji in 2022. I took courses in microbiology, plant and animal biology, fisheries biology, and applied and environmental chemistry. Through experiments and fieldwork, I broadened my knowledge of theories and developed a deeper desire to learn more about the science field. Currently, I am self-sponsoring two final courses online to complete this BSC program while staying back in my home country, Vanuatu. Hopefully, I will be finishing it in June this year, with graduation in October when I will receive a Bachelor of Science degree.

Studying online is not easy for me as I have to pay for internet data and other necessary materials for my education. Since my family faced financial problems and could not support me with all the necessary materials, I had to look for a job. In February 2023, I was offered a full-time position as a chemistry and biology tutor at a secondary school in Santo Island, Vanuatu. I accepted the offer to support myself financially, even though it's challenging to balance my studies and teaching. But I know that if this journey was easy, it wouldn't be worth it.

After completing my degree program in science, I plan to pursue a postgraduate degree in environmental and fishery biology. I believe that there is a significant need in Vanuatu for technical environment and fishery biologists to protect the environment and human health. If we have more technical people in this field, there would be fewer crises for people and nature in Vanuatu, creating a sustainable environment for everyone. This can contribute to achieving the majority of the United Nations 17 goals under Sustainable Development.

In the future, I aim to establish a Vanuatu Girls in Ocean Science (VGOS) group as part of the MWT leadership program in Vanuatu. The focus of the VGOS program is to empower young Ni-Vanuatu girls to become leaders in ocean science and conservation by offering education, mentorship, and practical experience in marine biology and environmental science.

I encourage Pacific Island women to pursue education whenever they have the chance. Learning theories and skills are all part of education, so grab the opportunity to learn something new every day. Pacific women should have the passion to become leaders in any area of work to help our people and make a difference in the Pacific region. I advocate for all women to know their worth, be brave, dream big, set goals, work hard, keep the faith in God, and not be afraid to take risks in making tough decisions in life. No one knows the ending, so you just have to take a leap of faith and see where it takes you.

Author: Mary Sine

“The power of technology lies not just in what it can do, but in who it can empower. Let's use it to amplify the voices of women and build a more inclusive and equitable future for all.”

Ms. Sine teaches Chemistry and Biology at Tata Secondary Presbyterian School, located on South Santo Island in Vanuatu. In this picture, she is conducting experiments and fieldwork as part of the teaching cycle for Chemistry and Biology.