Caribbean I: St Lucia to Sint Maarten

Photographic Specialist

I grew up in the pristine pine forests of Colorado and on the idyllic shoreline of South Carolina. My entire value system is oriented around being gentle, appreciative, and improving what I can. I always consider, and rue, the effects of human pollution in the places I treasure.

One such treasured place I’ve had the good fortune of visiting are the islands in the Caribbean Sea. Ubiquitously known as a desirable destination, my leisurely experience in the region was lovely but interrupted. I’ve walked through white sand beaches punctuated with shells and styrofoam – compelling me to invest time in beach cleanups on Grand Cayman’s North Side. We’ve snorkeled and adored fish throughout the Sea, then cut and dragged fishing line from the same reef.

Now, I’m off to visit some Caribbean islands again, only this time, leisure can take a hike. A group of women will set sail to research marine plastic pollution and I’m going with them via eXXpedition.

Author and Marine Biologist

Cherilyn is a Chinese American marine biologist who makes ocean science accessible and exciting for young readers with her award-winning 17-year-old blog, Ocean
of Hope. Her award-winning 8-book early reader chapter book eco-series, “Lily Lu to the Rescue” is published by Lerner Books. She has a book narrated by Ollie the Octopus coming out in 2027 and a nonfiction book about octopuses for a young adult audience coming out in 2028.

In Cherilyn’s work at public aquariums, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, she has held a three-day-old sea otter pup in the palm of her hand, cuddled with a one-week-old penguin chick, and even received a painting created by a giant pacific octopus.

On this eXXpedition voyage, Cherilyn is documenting the many changes happening to our ocean world, and especially the insidious plastic pollution. She has written a lot about the ocean and its amazing inhabitants but has spent precious little time near it.

Cherilyn’s life purpose is to bring to light the plight of our precious oceans and to reconnect people to nature. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA.

Scientist

Emily Tewes is an ocean conservation and climate policy professional passionate about protecting the ocean and the communities that depend on it. She is currently based in Barcelona and has worked in government and for NGOs for more than 12 years. With experience spanning marine science, policy, and environmental advocacy, she works to turn scientific knowledge into meaningful action and bring people together to drive policy change. She has worked on solutions to major threats facing the ocean including blue carbon restoration, advocating against deep seabed mining, and exposing cases of illegal fishing and working to drive policy change.

Half Belizean, Emily grew up spending her summers in the Caribbean, where her connection to the sea and the region was shaped from an early age. The Caribbean has always held a special place in her heart, making this eXXpedition voyage particularly meaningful. She is excited to return to these waters with a renewed sense of purpose, helping to better understand the challenge of plastic pollution in the region and champion solutions.

Emily plans to bring her experience in ocean advocacy and policy to the expedition, while learning from fellow crew members and the Caribbean community members we will meet.

Environmental Scientist

Kshitija Shah is an environmental scientist with a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCLA. Her research focused on developing biological approaches to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” She investigated the potential of fungi and their enzymes to break down persistent contaminants, alongside research into biological nutrient recovery from wastewater. Her work brought together microbiology, environmental engineering and the challenge of translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions for pollution.

Today, Kshitija works in industrial water and wastewater treatment in India, focusing on biological treatment technologies, research and development, and improving how industries manage their waste streams. Working at the intersection of science and industry allows her to explore how biological processes can be applied beyond the laboratory to address real-world environmental challenges. Kshitija’s work has given her an understanding of how pollutants enter aquatic environments and the challenges involved in preventing and managing contamination. Her passion for sailing offers a different perspective on these issues, connecting her scientific interests with a direct appreciation for the marine environments that need protecting.

Through eXXpedition, Kshitija hopes to bring together her scientific background, industrial experience and love of sailing to better understand plastic pollution, its sources and its impacts on our oceans. She looks forward to learning from an interdisciplinary community and exploring how scientific research and practical experience can contribute to meaningful action for healthier oceans!

School Counselor

Growing up in Southern California, the ocean has always been one of the most meaningful parts of Megan’s life. At just three months old, she made her first crossing of the Catalina Channel by sailboat, beginning a lifelong connection to the sea. Some of her most treasured memories were made on the water while sailing with her grandfather off the coast of San Diego and later with her uncle on voyages between San Pedro and Catalina Island.

Those experiences fostered a deep appreciation for the ocean’s beauty, power, and importance. They also instilled a belief that our connection to the ocean comes with a responsibility to protect it. Inspired by a lifetime on the water, Megan is honored to join eXXpedition’s ocean research voyage from St. Lucia to Sint Maarten.

As a Guest Crew Member, Megan is excited to contribute to research on marine plastic pollution while learning alongside women from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. She looks forward to deepening her understanding of the systems and behaviors that contribute to plastic pollution and exploring solutions that can help reduce it at its source.

Professionally, Megan works as a school counselor in Los Angeles, supporting students and families as they navigate challenges and opportunities in their communities. She is particularly excited to bring what she learns through this expedition back to young people, helping connect ocean health, environmental stewardship, and everyday choices in meaningful and accessible ways.

For Megan, this voyage is an opportunity to honor the people who first introduced her to the ocean while contributing to efforts to protect it for future generations.

Sea Safari Guide & University Student

Annis works as a guide for a Sea Safari company in Pembrokeshire, sharing her knowledge of the area’s wildlife, history and geology with passengers. Passionate about inspiring others to fall in love with the sea, she helps people discover the coastline’s beauty and the incredible diversity of its wildlife. She is currently training to be a Skipper, further developing her skills and experience as a seafarer.

Having grown up by the coast, Annis has always felt a deep connection to the sea. As a child she dreamed of becoming an Explorer, spending endless hours outdoors. Joining the Sea Cadets at age 10 fuelled her love of the water, leading to experiences in powerboating, paddlesports, windsurfing, rowing and sailing.

Whether in the sea or on it, Annis is happiest by the coast. She is studying Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology at the University of Plymouth, combining her practical experience on the water with a growing scientific understanding of the marine environment. She is now an adult volunteer for the Sea Cadets and her local Yacht Club, and following the voyage she is excited to share her experiences with her community, inspiring young people and helping to drive positive change.

Annis has witnessed first-hand the impacts of plastic pollution along her coastline, from seeing wildlife entangled in plastic to centering her A Level Geography individual project around variations in plastic pollution across local beaches. She hopes to use the practical and analytical skills from her university course to actively contribute to tackling plastic pollution. Passionate about making a difference, she is thrilled to be joining eXXpedition to deepen her understanding of the global plastic pollution crisis and turn her passion for protecting the ocean into meaningful action.

Research Scientist

Amy is an interdisciplinary research scientist with a PhD in engineering, specializing in sustainable materials management and pollution prevention. Joining this voyage is full circle for Amy as she was an early co-developer of the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP), a framework for generating holistic strategies for land-based plastic waste management in communities. Now as a research scientist in the Built Environment and Sustainable Engineering Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, Amy is adapting the CAP to examine local circularity of building materials as part of a growing research portfolio that includes projects with the National Geographic Society, Inter-American Development Bank, USAID, and the US Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Based far from the ocean in rural Montana, Amy lives with her husband, Will, and their two dogs among inspiring wilderness areas and rivers, where she enjoys fishing, skiing, hiking, and advocating for regional conservation. Because her home waters eventually join the sea, she is excited to reconnect with field work in the marine environment and learn from communities that depend on it.