Kingston, 3 December 2025 – More than 160 participants representing over 35 countries from across the global deep-sea research community gathered for a high-level webinar entitled, “Celebrating Women in Deep-Sea Science and Technological Innovation: Creating Lasting Impact through Knowledge Transfer.” Co-hosted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Government of France, the event marked the culmination of the pilot cohort of the See Her Exceed (S.H.E.) Global Mentorship Programme, an initiative launched in 2023, dedicated to advancing women’s leadership, technical expertise, and participation in deep-sea scientific research.
Madam Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the ISA, and H.E. Marianne Ziss, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Jamaica and Permanent Representative of France to ISA provided opening remarks followed by presentations from S.H.E. mentors, mentees, and leading experts across geology, biology, oceanography, engineering, and geochemistry.
In her address, Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho commended the achievements of the S.H.E. community and reinforced ISA’s commitment to inclusive and gender-responsive marine scientific research. She highlighted the launch of two major knowledge outputs developed by the cohort including:
- an expert analysis of recent trends in marine scientific research and innovation, and;
- a complementary study on barriers and facilitators shaping women’s participation in at-sea activities.
“These publications demonstrate ISA’s dedication to ensuring that the deep sea remains a space where all States, and all people, can contribute meaningfully” stated Secretary-General Carvalho. “S.H.E. is not simply a mentoring programme, it is an investment in the next generation of ocean leaders. It is a driver of scientific excellence and a core part of ISA’s mandate to advance marine scientific research, technology transfer and capacity development for the benefit of humankind.”
Ambassador Ziss emphasized France’s longstanding leadership on gender equality and ocean diplomacy, stating that “ocean diplomacy and feminist diplomacy are two key priorities for France.” She continued to reinforce the idea that “having a feminist foreign policy means promoting gender equality as a priority in all fields of foreign policy, including multilateral action and the international law of the sea.” Ambassador Ziss also underscored the relevance of the S.H.E. initiative, noting that the “S.H.E. programme and seminar illustrate the role of mentorship and the sharing of knowledge, which are central elements in the mission of the International Seabed Authority.”
As part of the technical sessions, the two knowledge products developed during the mentoring programme were officially launched and are now accessible on ISA’s publication website.
Drawing from more than 430 peer-reviewed publications, the first knowledge product, “Progress in marine scientific research and innovation (2020-2024)” examined trends across three major disciplines, including:
- Geology (e.g. resource assessments, tectonics, structural geology)
- Biology & Oceanography (e.g. taxonomy, biogeography, ecosystem functioning, connectivity)
- Engineering (e.g. innovation in mining systems, AI-enhanced seafloor mapping, processing technologies)
The study highlighted new species discoveries, emerging methodologies such as AI-supported imaging, and geographic imbalances in global scientific output. These publication patterns closely mirror the longevity of countries’ involvement in deep-sea mineral exploration, with early pioneer investors, such as Germany, Russia, France and Poland, collectively accounting for more than half of all publications, followed by major Asian contributors including India, Japan, Korea and China.
The second complementary study, “Advancing gender equity in deep-sea research activities: addressing the barriers to women’s participation in at-sea missions” draws on surveys and key informant interviews with researchers across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The study identified persistent structural and cultural barriers, including limited leadership opportunities, gender-biased selection processes, inadequate onboard facilities in at-sea scientific activities, and other safety and wellbeing challenges. These findings informed the development by participating experts of a draft S.H.E Gender Equity Charter presented during the webinar as a proposed evidence-based framework to support gender-response expedition planning. The draft Charter proposed by the scientists involved in the S.H.E. webinar outlines practical commitments for institutions, contractors and vessel operators related to leadership pathways, vessel protocols, transparent selection criteria, mentorship and safety mechanisms. This draft Charter is a living document and will undergo broader consultation.
Participants also heard personal reflections from female experts pioneering in deep-sea biodiversity and technological innovation, including, Dr. Zhang Yi, first female pilot of China’s Jiaolong submersible; Dr. Ranju Radhakrishnan, post-doctoral scientist at IFREMER and Ms. Lucy Njue, award-winning S.H.E. mentee from Kenya. Their testimonies highlighted the importance of inclusive training opportunities, international cooperation, and mentorship for early-career researchers. The impact of the pilot cohort was further demonstrated through mentee achievements, including contributions to the United Nations World Ocean Assessment, representation at major international conferences, and recipients of scientific awards.
Throughout the sessions, mentors and experts emphasized the value of cross-regional scientific partnerships and the need to expand S.H.E. to strengthen global capacity-building efforts. Panelists noted that gender parity remains uneven across scientific disciplines and that participation of developing States must continue to be prioritized. They further emphasized that artificial intelligence and AI new observational technologies are transforming deep-sea science. And finally, institutional support and inclusive team cultures directly enhances research outcomes. These reflections echo the S.H.E. programme’s objectives and support ISA’s broader mandate under UNCLOS.
In closing, Madam Secretary-General reaffirmed her commitment to scaling the programme’s reach and launching a stakeholder consultation on the S.H.E Gender Equity Charter to further enhance its legitimacy. “Together, let us strengthen the pipeline of women scientists and advance the good practices that will carry this programme into the future,” said Secretary-General Carvalho. Ms. Caroline Krajka, Director for law of the sea and lead negotiator at ISA at the French ministry of Europe and European Affairs underscored that France’s support to the S.H.E. Programme is rooted in its commitment to advancing scientific understanding and protection of the deep seabed, and highlighted the valuable contributions from French contractor, IFREMER, in strengthening global knowledge and research collaboration.
The outcomes of the webinar will inform ongoing ISA work programmes related to marine scientific research, technology transfer, and capacity development, and will guide future cohorts of the S.H.E. Global Mentorship Programme.
About the S.H.E. Global Mentorship Programme
Launched by ISA in partnership with Member States and leading scientific institutions, S.H.E. – See Her Exceed supports women scientists from developing States to access training, mentorship, and opportunities in deep-sea research and technological innovation. The programme contributes to strengthening global scientific capacity and ensuring equitable participation in activities conducted in the Area.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to ensuring that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including mining, are regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all humankind.
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ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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