At Black In Marine Science's first in-person week, Dr. Raven Baxter teaches scientists to build a brand

Dr. Raven Baxter led an interactive branding workshop on Nov. 27, 2023, at Black In Marine Science Week in Norfolk, Virginia. The session ran on the second day of the organization's first in-person week, held Nov. 26 to Dec. 2.

It was a working session. Attendees followed her deck, titled "Maven Magic," on their laptops and took the microphone to share their answers. The refrain on her slides was "every brand needs a plan."

The week came as researchers tracked how few Black scientists work in STEM fields, and in ocean science in particular. In January 2023, the National Science Foundation reported that Black workers made up 9% of the US STEM workforce in 2021. A December 2023 paper in Oceanography looked at ocean science. Less than 2% of graduate students in Earth, atmospheric and ocean sciences identify as Black, it reported, along with 1% of tenured faculty. The paper named Black In Marine Science among the networks that build a sense of belonging.

Baxter in front of the workshop's second step, on passions. Photo: Reneka Swims for Black In Marine Science

Attendees built a brand one step at a time. They started with their passions, under a slide asking what they were truly passionate about. Next came strengths. "What skills or talents do you have that set you apart from others?" one slide asked. "These could be technical skills, soft skills, or even innate abilities."

The last step turned those answers into a strategy. "This is your plan for how you will build and communicate your brand," her slide read. The plan named platforms such as LinkedIn, a personal website or public speaking. It also covered the type of content to share and how often to engage with an audience. Another line on the same slide asked, "How are you going to give what needs to be gave?"

An attendee follows along on a laptop as Baxter walks the room through brand strategy. Photo: Black In Marine Science

Dr. Tiara Moore founded Black In Marine Science in 2020. According to the organization, it started with a tweet after the harassment of Christian Cooper, a Black birdwatcher, in New York's Central Park. It grew into a team of organizers running an online event and is now a registered nonprofit. Its 2023 annual review counted 450 members across 32 countries, up 67% in a year.

BIMS Week 2023 drew 222 attendees to 84 sessions. The program paired career sessions with wellness activities, a beach clean-up and a sneaker ball. One of its stated goals was to amplify the visibility of Black marine scientists. "I never thought these opportunities would be possible for me," attendee Adrianna Johnson said in the organization's recap.

Attendees cheer during the branding workshop. Baxter is not pictured. Photo: Black In Marine Science

Baxter is a molecular biologist and science communicator, known online as Dr. Raven the Science Maven. She earned her Ph.D. at the University at Buffalo, where her research focused on science communication.

Black In Marine Science published a recap of BIMS Week 2023 and a video of the week.