Submitting Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. It happened last November when I needed to take a break from the diving activity to see the world in a different perspective. I made friends with many locals and that was the easiest way to help you to adapt to all the new things happening around you. The priceless moment when I reached the peak after walking extensively around 5 days.
Staff Spotlight: Pascal Sebastian
Title:
Lead Marine BiologistPhotos
Master of Science - Marine Biology and Ecology, Bryozoan Taxonomy, Indo Ocean Project Lead Marine Biologist and PADI OWSI.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I need to open my mind to learn new information. I must update myself with the current issue in Marine Biology: from sciences, novel scientific methodologies and actual global issues. It is imperative as a mentor to provide broad information to the students in order to answer questions, open discussions and inspire them to become scientists.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
They are working in the diving industry, conservation organization and some of them continue their education in Marine Biology. Some of them will do a project back in our base. We are so excited to receive them and also to do more collaboration with more institutions, especially from the university.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would like to join the Coral Mapping Project. I love descriptive science and exploring the marine diversity around the island. The project gives us a perspective of the environmental variety and changing. It is always amazed me to study the mysterious community composition which at the end will give us a better understanding on how the ecosystem works.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We are the leading conservation organization within Nusa Penida. We do conservation based on empirical science and we are connected to the local Marine Conservation Authority by providing open source data as considerations for decision makers. We do youth outreach as we believe the education of young people is the best investment.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
- Innovation - We need to update our programs which cause a positive effect to the students and also the company team.
- Flexibility , Trust, Transparency - These aspects are the combination that I believe as the key to become a successful team which eventually a successful company.
- Passion - Every member of the team must have a passion, thus one does not work just to pay the bills.