Meet Lily Haines, marine biologist and Communications Director at the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) - one of our amazing Non-Profit Partners.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in science, and specifically in your specialty?

It all started with an undergraduate research trip to The Bahamas while I was studying at Carleton University. We traveled there to study local marine ecology and complete a capstone research project, and it ended up being one of the most fun and adventurous experiences of my life. I was completely in awe of this underwater world, so full of life, color, and fish! All I wanted to do was swim, dive, and learn everything I possibly could.

That trip changed my trajectory entirely. I went from journalism school straight into a research master's in marine biology at Simon Fraser University, where I worked in a coral reef lab and published my first scientific papers. Partway through my degree, I applied for a job at the Perry Institute for Marine Science, and I've been here ever since. I've held multiple roles over the years, lived in The Bahamas for a year and a half, spent time in Curaçao, and it's always been reefs. They captured my heart and never let go.

2. Can you share a memorable experience from your research or an expedition that shaped your perspective on ocean conservation?

One experience that really shaped me was coral spawning work in Abaco, Bahamas in 2018. We put in an incredible amount of effort: setting up floating aquariums in the ocean to contain elkhorn and staghorn coral larvae while providing settlement substrates for them, preparing the lab, and transporting all the equipment over. It was a massive undertaking. For about 12 nights straight, we were diving from around 10 PM until 1 or 2 in the morning, working in pitch-black water with the reef alive around us. Nighttime fish, nocturnal activity, a little spooky but mostly magical.

After all that work, the corals NEVER spawned.

We ran a similar mission the following month in Eleuthera, and that time they did spawn. But that first trip taught me how unpredictable nature (and science) can be, and how costly this work really is. When you factor in personnel time, boat fuel, dive tanks, and lab equipment, it adds up quickly. Understanding coral spawning times and being able to propagate larvae for large-scale restoration is absolutely critical for the future of reefs, but it requires sustained funding to make it happen.

That experience is actually what drew me toward marketing and communications. A huge part of my role now is fundraising, and I've come to see it as just as important as the science itself. Without the resources, we can't do the work. And without the work, we can't stabilize these reefs or preserve their genetics in the face of climate change.

3. What advice do you have for young girls and women interested in pursuing careers in science, especially those who love the ocean?

Go for it, and never stop being creative.

People often think science is only for "mathletes" and highly analytical people. And yes, critical thinking, analytical skills, and experimental design are all important. But what often gets overlooked is that outreach, communication, and fundraising (the things that actually make your work possible) require creativity. They require soft skills like connecting with people, articulating why your work matters, and telling a story that makes others care. Painting a picture.

So my advice is this: Study hard, but never stop creating. In your personal life and professionally. It will take you far.

4. What is your vision for the future of marine science, and how can we all contribute to preserving our oceans?

My vision centers on bridging the gap between scientists and decision-makers. We need new channels of communication, mutual respect, and shared education between researchers and the politicians who shape environmental policy. The ocean covers 70% of our planet and doesn't care about territorial boundaries, so our approach to protecting it shouldn't either.

On an individual level, we can all contribute by making sustainable choices in our daily lives: Reducing single-use plastics, choosing reef-safe products, being mindful of our consumption. But if I'm being honest, the most impactful thing any of us can do is advocate for stronger environmental policies. Contact your elected officials. Write those emails. Make those phone calls. Corporations are far greedier than the average individual, and they cannot go unchecked. Holding them accountable through policy is how we create the systemic change our oceans desperately need.

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