Monik Choppy

Who I am

Who I am had been a difficult path to navigate for a long time. I was a young girl who loved art, science and wildlife clubs. Then I was a very studious person finishing up her A-Levels, and before I knew it I was living abroad in a country that was not at all like the Seychelles. I found myself missing the breath-taking nature of my home country, and so I came back with a new ignited purpose to study Environmental science at the University of Seychelles. Through the University I got to experience D’Arros’s pristine natural ecosystems, from finding turtle nests to having a night safari under the stars, to swimming with reef manta rays and learning about the efforts put into conserving this unique marine protected area. Since then, my love for my country and my desire to explore and learn about more protected areas within the archipelago has grown. My interests have also steered me more towards the ocean as I’ve learned that it does way more for us than we think. Who I am is a proud Seychellois who is determined to help conserve the vast ocean that connects us all and is integral to SIDS such as my home.

Where I work

I am finishing up my BSc undergraduate degree in Environmental science at the University of Seychelles. I’ve had past experience with deep ocean research (specifically BRUVS and lab work) when I boarded the oceanXplorer vessel in January 2024. I am also a member of SYAH Seychelles, an NGO that supports youth-led sustainable development projects. I wanted to be a member given the fact that tackling environmental problems is more of a marathon than a race, and environmental issues are intergenerational. It is therefore important to inspire the youth to work towards achieving sustainability as they will be the next generation of leaders that will ensure the continuous safeguarding of our environment.

What I do

My studies have led to me taking an interest in marine plastic pollution, and I hope to centre my future career around plastic pollution research and intercepting plastics from marine and coastal environment. My independent research project, focused on measuring microplastic concentrations in reef manta ray feeding grounds around D’Arros and St. Joseph is hopefully the first stepping stone of my journey.