Our Finalists

We are excited to announce the 10 finalists of the SOSF Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant 2022!

The judges reviewed 147 applications from a range of talented wordsmiths from across the world. The entire judging panel was thrilled by the number of different countries represented and were really impressed with the calibre of entries. It was exciting to see the wealth of talent, interest, and commitment to conservation storytelling, and the process highlighted to all the judges that there is value in providing opportunities where there is clearly interest and need.

Our ten finalists for the Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant 2022. Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

The three winners will be selected from these 10 finalists and will be announced on 13 February 2023.

Each winner will receive a US$2,000 cash prize and will be given a paid writing assignment to document an SOSF-supported marine research or conservation project. He or she will take an all-expenses-paid trip to visit that SOSF project anywhere in the world to complete the assignment. The SOSF has funded more than 400 projects in more than 85 countries and each winning writer will be assigned to tell one of these stories.
The grantees will be mentored by Dr Helen Scales (marine biologist and bestselling author), Swati Thiyagarajan (conservation journalist at the Sea Change Project) and Dr Lauren De Vos (SOSF science writer).
All winners will be given the chance to showcase their published marine conservation story assignment.

The Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant builds on the legacy of our previous photography grants and is dedicated to supporting a diverse generation of emerging conservation storytellers. We were searching for passionate and committed writers who can write conservation features about the ocean, even if their background has not previously been specifically marine focused.

What we found were fresh perspectives and amazing place-based insights from writers who wove science and natural history into powerful news pieces, feature-style articles, and inspiring non-fiction stories.

Continue reading below to learn more about each of our fantastic finalists!

Dimuthu Attanayake

X-Press pearl disaster may not be over yet

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Dimuthu Attanayake

Finalist

Sri Lanka

As a conservation storyteller I would like to bring important conservation issues to the attention of the public and the policy makers. Through this work, I hope that environmental justice can be upheld, and these conservation challenges could be solved, at least to partially restore some level of ecological balance. I hope someday my work contributes towards the conservation of at least one endangered species, and contributes to saving ecological habitats such as oceans, and forests in some way.

Read Dimuthu’s submission here

“The journalism skills have given Dimuthu an eye for details, and I feel she could really benefit with the combination of mentorship and the grant assignment, as it will give her the opportunity and scope to take her writing further.”

Swati Thiyagarajan | Conservation journalist at the Sea Change Project

Tatjana Baleta

Telling biodiversity’s story – 1,001 magnificent species of the seaforest

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Tatjana Baleta

Finalist

South Africa

I believe in the power of story to make people care about an issue. If you can weave a narrative that resonates with someone, you can capture their hearts and rally their minds to a cause. My goal is to use my scientific background and creative proclivity to do this for conservation issues. Conservation issues can be highly complex and nuanced. Often there are multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests, and there isn’t always a clear path to a solution. I want to use my writing to make someone think in a more holistic way about an issue, and to tell the stories of those who have not had the opportunity to be heard.

Read Tatjana’s submission here

“Tatjana writes beautifully and is full of expression. She is also able to speak to scientists and translate their intentions, which makes for powerful storytelling”

Dr Lauren De Vos | Save Our Seas Foundation scientific writer

Madison Churchill

Diving into the heart of the ocean

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Madison Churchill

Finalist

United States of America

It is my dream to travel the world, diving and writing about vulnerable ecosystems in hopes of inspiring changemakers. There are so many places in the ocean we stand to lose before their stories are ever told. I find that much of ocean storytelling focuses on warm tropical reefs. They are eye-catching and easy to sell. I want to tell stories from the less-explored places, the cold and kelpy climates. I believe in using a poetic voice to evoke emotion for these lesser-loved habitats which are just as important to protect.

Read Madison’s submission here

“Madison writes really well and submitted a strong application. Her passion and sense of direction in conservation storytelling are so evident. She is also very clear about what she would gain from this mentorship, which is insightful and helpful.”

Dr Lauren De Vos | Save Our Seas Foundation scientific writer

Elyse Defranco

Withering Away? A viral lifeline for California’s abalone

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Elyse Defranco

Finalist

United States of America

I want to find the stories that highlight nuance and embrace the complexities of the real challenges facing the biodiversity crisis. I think it’s crucial to find ways to communicate urgency for species in decline, but to do so in a manner that inspires people to care about the animal for their inherent value, and not in a way that triggers only hopelessness.

Read Elyse’s submission here

“Elyse’s essay hooked me right in with vivid scene setting, then kept me reading with the curious twist that viruses can be a good thing. Who knew?! She is a brilliant storyteller with an excellent eye for the unusual and engaging. She’s doing fantastic work as a journalist and is earning her place among the conservation storytellers who are helping readers appreciate and understand the living planet. I eagerly look forward to following her work in the future.”

Dr Helen Scales | Marine biologist and bestselling author

Moisés Gallo

Antofagasta’s piure: Identity lost

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Moisés Gallo

Finalist

Chile

My goals and dreams as an ocean conservation storyteller are aligned with those of ocean literacy itself: to help increase awareness about our impacts on the ocean, our mutual dependence with it and to shed light on the very, very, very interesting life of marine organisms. I would also like to help people learn about what they can really do to protect our seas, based in solid science and in an honest and simple approach. I feel I have so much to say. Our Chilean Ocean has so much to say too, and I would like to be its voice.

Read Moisés’ submission here

“Moisés is an excellent writer and a nuanced storyteller. He clearly knows how to dig deeper and embrace the complexity of many-sided stories. I especially like that he looked beyond the obvious narrative of invasive species being a bad thing and shows how they are an important part of the changing ocean that we need to try and wrap our heads around. It raises my hope for the future of the ocean knowing there are writers like Moisés who will take their place in next generation of conservation storytellers.”

Dr Helen Scales | Marine biologist and bestselling author

Serag Heiba

Dugongs of the Red Sea

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Serag Heiba

Finalist

Egypt

I dream that my writing will stand as an archive of the natural world, and that my writing can induce an effect in readers that is even one tenth of what the natural world’s beauty inspires. In some ways, I hope my dream does not become reality: an archive implies a past beyond reach, accessible only second-hand. In everything I write, I hope simply that I create a story worthy of being retold by others: to a friend, a family member, to a classmate or stranger.

Read Serag’s submission here

“Serag’s essay is a delight to read. It’s obvious he is an accomplished writer with an excellent sense of how to craft a great story. I especially liked the way he connected the scientific and cultural stories surrounding dugongs in the Red Sea. Serag’s voice is strong and his has important messages to tell, which I am sure will connect with a growing audience. I can’t wait to see how his writing continues and what he does next.”

Dr Helen Scales | Marine biologist and bestselling author

Wenzel Pinto

Searching for sustainability -Skipjack tuna fisheries in the Lakshadweep

Artwork by Jamy Silver | © Save Our Seas Foundation

Wenzel Pinto

Finalist

India

As a conservation storyteller my goal is to bring awareness about the importance and outcomes of conservation measures to people. The biggest challenge in doing so is cutting through scientific jargon, and making accessible to the general public, the knowledge that we derive through science. Most popular articles and translations of scientific papers that I read are published in wildlife centric magazines. However, this keeps the information within a smaller insular community of wildlife lovers. Through my articles I wish to reach people with no specific interest in wildlife conservation and instil in them the fascination for the natural world.

Read Wenzel’s submission here

“Wenzel has the marine biology background, and writes very well with both clarity and a skill for telling a good story. I can see that this is his passion and focus. I would be excited to see how something like the mentorship element with a grant like this one would enhance his writing skills”

Swati Thiyagarajan | Conservation journalist at the Sea Change Project

Christina Riley

Hope Spots

Christina Riley

Finalist

United Kingdom

They say to protect something we need to love it; however, I don’t think it needs to be understood to be loved. We might never understand the mind of an octopus, what a scallop sees with 200 eyes, or what the seabed feels like to a brittle star, but they deserve close attention, care, and protection regardless. My goal is to share stories of ocean life not as ‘alien’ or ‘otherworldly’, but as earthly kin entirely of this world we share.

Read Christina’s submission here

“I absolutely loved Christina’s feature submission and thought that so much of her work was beautiful, whimsical, and humorous! I’ve investigated hundreds of rockpools and their inhabitants in my lifetime, but Christina’s descriptions had me looking at them anew. That’s a wonderful talent to share.”

Dr Lauren De Vos | Save Our Seas Foundation scientific writer

Fanni Szakal

The whale that is heard, but not seen

Fanni Szakal

Finalist

Hungary

One of the main reasons why I switched careers from doing research in Marine Biology to science writing was because I felt impatient that my research never got to the public or had a chance to make a difference. Saving the planet requires action from everyone, and I think awareness is the first key step. As a science writer, I often try to include conservation or sustainability issues in my articles, whether it is the fate of an endangered dolphin, the changing ecosystem of the Arctic because of climate change, or finding sustainability solutions in low-income countries.

Read Fanni’s submission here

“I love how Fanni took something familiar like whales and focussed on the unfamiliar like deep diving whales, with a great balance between facts and story. She’s yet another really great candidate who has applied!”

Swati Thiyagarajan | Conservation journalist at the Sea Change Project

Vanessa Wright

Tidal Treasures

Vanessa Wright

Finalist

United Kingdom

The most important aspect of engagement with conservation is getting people to care. A variety of voices is critical to engage the diverse population around us. If I can engage just one reader to create a connection with the natural world, then hopefully, they will be motivated to protect the planet, even if it is only through the lens of a single plant or animal. As the proverb proclaims, “mighty oaks from little acorns grow”.

Read Vanessa’s submission here

“I really enjoyed this read and chuckled at the use of ” jellyficianado” (which I loved) in the feature-style submission! A pleasant seaside stroll, a lovely mix of a naturalist’s notes embellished with personal touches. I would quite happily settle down with a cup of tea and read Vanessa’s work any day, letting her stories transport me to the sea.”

Dr Lauren De Vos | Save Our Seas Foundation scientific writer