Oceanographer

Right on time for the start of the new semester, we have a new rOLe model post for you!

We are delighted to introduce oceanographer Dr. Mariana Ribas Ribas, Senior Scientist in the research group Processes and sensing of marine interfaces at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg, to you.

This is the link for the project “Biogeochemical processes and Air-sea exchange in the Sea-Surface microlayer (BASS)”: https://uol.de/en/bass

And this for the project “The North Sea from space: Using explainable artificial intelligence to improve satellite observations of climate change (NorthSat-X)”: https://uol.de/en/icbm/processes-and-sensing-of-marine-interfaces/projects/northsea-x

First published on instagram (@equality_uol).

The first slide hast the title „Oceanographer Dr. Mariana Ribas Ribas, Senior Scientist“. There is a picture with a person with dark curly hair who is wearing a black shirt with colorful ornaments and is smiling into the camera, Dr. Mariana Ribas Ribas. She is standing next to a structure taller than she is with red buoys at the end.
The text on this slide says: Oceanographer. Senior Scientist in the research group Processes and sensing of marine interfaces at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment(ICBM), University of Oldenburg. "My field of research is the inorganic carbon cycle in the surface ocean, the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and the atmosphere and the role of the sea surface microlayer on these processes."
This silde contains two questions. The first question ist „What made you want to go to science?“ and the answer is: "At the beginning I did not choose science, I chose ocean. Ocean is everything to me: I come from a fishermen family from an island, my hobbies were sailing and swimming. During my Marine Science studies I understood I could live studying the ocean and that was the perfect combination." The second question is: „What is the achievement you are most proud of?“ and the answer is: "I am most proud of the technology that has been developed to advance the knowledge of the SML (sea surface microlayer). From identifying the needs and writing the project, through the discussions in the wonderful ICBM workshop to the final instrument in the water. I am also very proud of my students (one even won a prize!) and the interactions with them."
On this slide is another picture. It contains a person leaning against the rehling of a ship who is wearing a black hat, a colorful scarf and an anorak in blue and white. In the background is the sea and sheets of ice. The text in the green and white box says: „“…in the Arctic during a cruise in 2012, on board of James Clark Ross, the ice breaker of the British Antarctic Survey.”
On this slide is just another question, written in black text on white. It says „What is your advice for those who are interested in working in science?“ The answer is: "Go for it! It won't always be easy, but it's worth it. And I would also recommend having a plan B, if the science career doesn't work out, or at some point gets stuck, what could I do that I would also like? In my case, it was always to be a science teacher in secondary school. It doesn't mean you give up, it just helps you not to get frustrated. One very helpful advice I got in my first postdoc is "learn to say no, without giving an explanation". Don't believe you need to work 60 h per week to be successful - this I learnt recently, while combining science and motherhood. It is amazing how efficient we can be on the time we got."
Another question: „Did you meet any barriers during your career as a scientific researcher?“ Asnwer: "In general, I can say that I have been quite fortunate in my career to work with people who have facilitated my progression as a scientist. I am well aware that many people, especially women, have not been as lucky as me. However, caring for my young son alone is now a barrier for me to embark on oceanographic cruises. Thanks to the research group I work with, this is not a problem: they go on board, and I deal with the data or cover the teaching. I know I will be able to go back to sea when my son grows up, but sometimes I miss working in the field."
Picture and text with question and answer. Question: „In which country or countries and institutions have you been doing research?“ Answer: "I did my PhD in Cádiz , Spain and after finishing it I moved to Southampton, UK. There I spent almost three years working as a postdoc at the National Oceanography Center. At the end of 2014 I moved to Wilhelmshaven, Germany and I am still here! I started with a three-year postdoc until I got a permanent position as a scientist and teacher at the University of Oldenburg in 2019." Picture: Mariana Ribas Ribas sitting in front of her computer at home, working. There is a child’s head laying on her shoulder. The child seems to have fallen to sleep and Mariana Ribas Ribas is looking over her shoulder and smiling.
This slide contains the scientist’s University education / Academic positions: 2019 - present: Senior Scientist. Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Germany. 2014 – 2019: Experienced Researcher. Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Germany. 2012 – 2014: Postdoctoral Research Fellow. School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, United Kingdom. 2011: Researcher. Department of Chemical Oceanography, University of Cádiz, Spain. 2011: Master degree in Biodiversity and Ecosystems, University of Vigo, Spain. 2010: European PhD with Honours (Chemical Oceanography), University of Cádiz, Spain. 2008: MSc (Marine Science), University of Cádiz, Spain. 2005: BSc (Marine Science), University of Cádiz, Spain.
Another question: „What is your agenda for the coming months?“ Answer: "I have just started a huge DFG-funded project called "Biogeochemical processes and Air-sea exchange in the Sea-Surface microlayer (BASS)". We are in the process of selecting and recruiting the staff we need to get the project off the ground. In addition, although I am not actively involved in the campaign itself, we are preparing several oceanographic campaigns for the project "The North Sea from space: Using explainable artificial intelligence to improve satellite observations of climate change (NorthSat-X)”. The next one starts next week so all our labs are full of boxes! Furthermore, I want to finish my habilitation thesis and defend it before the end of the winter semester. Finally, teaching is also very important to me, so I am glad that the semester has started recently and I am able to teach the details of marine interfaces to the students enrolled this semester and to accompany the thesis students who are developing their theses with me."
Another picture. On the left, There is a part of a boat, and Mariana Ribas Ribas is looking up from it. On the left is a similar struture to the one in the first picture, just smaller and in the air. It countains red buoys. The text says “…my first cruise since I was pregnant and maternity leave ended, on the Jade Bay on the RV Otzum, a ship from Oldenburg University. The buoy is the same structure like in the first picture named Sniffle, a CO2 drifting buoy. It is one of the technologies we developed to measure in situ CO2 fluxes and gas transfer velocities.” There is white text on a box with a green background that says „Thank you, Dr. Mariana Ribas Ribas!“

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