OneReef’s Dr. Nicole Yamase was a keynote speaker at the 2026 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, held October 28-30 in Long Beach, California. SACNAS is the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science. The conference brings together scientists, students, educators, and professionals to celebrate diversity and expand opportunities in STEM.
Centered on this year’s theme, DRIVE, Dr. Yamase’s keynote reflected on her remarkable journey as a Micronesian scientist and how her cultural identity, community, and deep connection to the ocean have shaped her path—from her academic career to her leadership in advancing community-led ocean conservation at OneReef.
The conference was a meaningful full-circle moment, as Nicole first attended SACNAS in 2011 as an undergraduate, when only a handful of Pacific Islanders were present. Returning 15 years later, she was incredibly proud to see nearly 70 members of the Guam delegation in attendance, a powerful reminder of the growing presence and visibility of Pacific Islanders in science. Nicole emphasized the importance of honoring ancestral knowledge while creating opportunities for the next generation. She encouraged students to reflect on what drives them, who they represent, and how they can use their opportunities to serve their communities and the places they call home.
For Pacific Island communities, inspiring the next generation of ocean scientists is about much more than expanding opportunities in STEM. It is about ensuring that the people whose cultures, livelihoods, and identities are inseparable from the ocean are also leading the science and decisions that shape its future.
Micronesians and more broadly, Pacific Islanders, bring generations of ecological knowledge, cultural understanding, and lived experience to the challenges facing their marine environments. When young Pacific Islanders see scientists and leaders like Nicole succeeding while remaining deeply connected to their heritage, they can envision pathways in which scientific excellence and cultural identity reinforce one another.
At OneReef, we believe that enduring ocean conservation depends on investing in people as much as in ecosystems. Supporting the next generation of Micronesian scientists, conservation practitioners, and community leaders is fundamental to ensuring that Pacific communities have the expertise, institutions, and authority to guide the stewardship of their ocean resources for generations to come.
In her keynote, Nicole encouraged students to reflect on what drives them, who they represent, and how they can use their opportunities to serve their communities and the places they call home. Her message was a powerful reminder that the future of ocean science in the Pacific is about nurturing the leaders who will connect that knowledge with Indigenous wisdom, community priorities, and meaningful conservation action.