International Seabed Authority – Survey, interview and research-based report on empowering women in deep-sea research from Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries

Contributors: Wendy Watson-Wright, project advisor and review; Susan Buckingham, gender equity advisor and review; Craig Burkett (BSC Ltd), survey creation and administration, data analysis; Amberlea Williams, graphic design

Created under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), charged with regulating seabed activities under the high seas, has a mandate to ensure the benefits of those activities are equitably distributed. As a result, ISA initiated a study on women in deep-sea research from Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

As ISA’s preferred proponent, we began by building a work plan in collaboration with ISA from a base methodology developed by ISA and developed three surveys (one to country focal points, one to ocean institutions and one to individuals working in ocean science) based on UN best practice documents on gender equity surveys for the sciences. We supported the engagement of ISA’s focal points, administered the surveys within 24 countries, and analysed the extensive survey data. 

Highlighting the voices of people working in ocean science, and in particular women’s voices, was a key element for this project, to ensure individual experiences would shine through. We interviewed women from the three country types and created full-page spreads that tell the interviewees’ stories and communicate their challenges. We also created full-page spreads of quotes that represent the breadth of survey responses to women’s top career challenges, and how discrimination has affected their careers.

The final over 100-page report presents the analysed survey data and interview results, as well as research conducted on the political landscape relating to gender equity and funding of ocean science in the countries of interest. 

ISA launched Empowering women from LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in deep-search research at a side event of the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference.

Based on the results of the study, in 2023, ISA launched the S.H.E. See Her Exceed Mentoring Programme, a 12-month opportunity for women working in deep-sea sciences from LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS to be mentored by senior professionals in the field.