A Black scientist, a coral rescue project, and a lesson from the ocean

Colin Howe is a marine biologist focusing on corals (Photo courtesy Colin Howe)

“There are so many examples that we can see in the wild of where diversity … can benefit the ecosystem as a whole. And I think there is something we can take from that and apply to our very lives.”
— Colin Howe

As a marine biologist, Colin Howe sees diversity as an indicator of health: the more diverse an ecosystem, the more likely it is to thrive.

But while scientists work hard to preserve diversity in the wild, they often fail to achieve it in the workplace.

Colin is one of just a handful of Black biologists in the United States. According to the National Science Foundation, less than 5 percent of scientists and engineers in the U.S. are Black.

On this episode, we talk with Colin about pursuing his passion in a predominantly white field. And we discuss what the oceans can teach us about the benefits of diversity.