Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Ledbetter.
Devon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was 14, I decided I wanted to be a scuba diver. My dad was a diver, my grandma was a diver, my grandpa was a diver and a sense of adventure really ran in the family. After getting certified. I did my first open water dives on the shorelines of Grand Cayman. I got my first underwater camera and spent two weeks exploring the underwater world alongside my dad, my grandparents- my family. As a brand new diver, I was enamored with this new underwater world.
These experiences led me into the decision to study marine science in my undergraduate years. I was admitted to the University of Miami with a double major in marine science and biology – a heavy STEM track. As I went through my studies and took all my classes, I slowly began to realize that these science courses, as I went through my coursework and took classes, I began to realize that I didn’t feel true passion about science and research- it didn’t come easily, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good fit.
My sophomore year I saw an advertisement for a undergraduate summer Fellowship with Rescue a Reef – a nonprofit at the University of Miami doing coral restoration. This internship was unique- it focused on using underwater photography as a tool for storytelling to bridge the gap between science and the public. I used photos from my family dive trip, and decided to submit a portfolio and application. This was the first time I realized that there were paths in conservation aside from traditional research and science.
My studies had taken a turn- I focused my coursework on Marine Affairs and Communications double major, where I built my niche and portfolio in science communications. I worked internships and fellowships that focused on marketing, social media management, communications and public relations to gain a robust background in the various disciplines associated with science communication.
After graduating from UM as an undergrad, I continued to their Rosenstiel School to earn a MPS degree in Marine Conservation, and continued to focus on specializing in science communication. To wrap up my graduate studies, I completed a unique capstone project that took me aboard NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft to produce an immersive, 360-degree virtual reality experience, giving the public a firsthand look into hurricane research.
After graduation, I was offered a role as Program Manager at Rescue a Reef- the same organization that had offered my Canon Coral Conservation fellowship as an undergraduate. Now, in my role at Rescue a Reef, I spearhead public engagement initiatives, host citizen science activities, and develop innovative science communication campaigns that bring coral restoration to new audiences. Conservation takes many forms, and one of those is communication. “Nothing in science has any value to society if it is not communicated”. Anne Roe
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was challenging to identify where I could contribute.
Growing up, communication skills came easily to me. I enjoyed writing and loved public speaking, but felt drawn to study the ocean by my experiences underwater. At the early stages of my studies, I never realized that nontraditional roles existed in conservation. Academia focuses on rigorously preparing early career scientists for paths in research, and I rarely found myself enjoying these pieces. I felt called to conserve our ocean ecosystems, but didn’t know how I could use my skills to contribute. Nontraditional paths – like science communication- were rarely advertised or discussed; the field was very slowly emerging. But through unique experiences- like Rescue a Reef’s Canon Coral Conservation Fellowship – opened doors that I didn’t even know existed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The funny thing about science communication is that it requires you to have skills as both a scientist and a communicator.
It requires you to speak the science lingo- understand the research, the data, the jargon- and able to translate it in engaging and informative ways to diverse audiences.
As Program Manager, I’m responsible for hosting and executing all of our public outreach and citizen science programming. We regularly host coral restoration expeditions, where we bring members of the public out alongside our scientific divers to plant corals back onto Florida’s Coral Reef. As a scientific diver, I’ve hosted over expeditions with over 400 citizen scientists, planting more than 3,000 corals.
Aside from spearheading our citizen science programming, I’m responsible for managing the organization’s science communication efforts. This includes running our social pages (with over 15K followers!), developing new educational materials (underwater virtual reality experience), and training incoming Fellows on underwater photography and multimedia (the same fellowship I had)!
In my role at Rescue a Reef, I’m a scientific diver, coral restoration practitioner, underwater photographer, social media manager, and science communicator all wrapped into one.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
There was a period of time where I considered a completely different career path in college- aviation! Coming from a family of adventurers, many aren’t shocked to hear that my dad and my grandfather were both pilots.
While in my undergraduate studies, I enrolled in flight school to earn my pilot’s license. I’d fly the morning shift, and then head to class in the afternoon! While it didn’t end up being my path, I spent two years in training to earn my Private Pilot license, Multiengine rating and Seaplane rating. It made up a large part of my passion in my early career while I was trying to find my fit!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rescueareef.earth.miami.edu/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescueareef/ https://www.instagram.com/devon.ledbetter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rescueareef/
- Twitter: https://x.com/rescueareef
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9Q8EqZiZj6RsN7fcQiZ8Q
