Sharing Science with Film!

By Lauren Jones – Spring 2025 Intern

Having the opportunity to intern with ANGARI Foundation has been an exciting and unforgettable adventure! My time here has been full of new experiences, growth, furthering my craft and developing a deeper passion for our marine environments!

As an intern, I focused on creating two video projects that convey the purpose and heart behind the programs Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks and Lagoon Drift. In addition, I helped with photography at outreach & community events, school visits and on expeditions. I’ve always had a love for the environment and videography/photography and this internship gave me the perfect opportunity to combine both! The aim for my video projects was to create informative, inviting and exciting videos that share the goals of Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks and Lagoon Drift with the public and get them engaged on marine topics. Being able to create these two programming videos, knowing that I can help ANGARI reach a larger audience and attract new people, has been rewarding.

My favorite memory is the Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks expeditions! For Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks, ANGARI partners with Florida International University (FIU) to take local school groups out on their research vessel, R/V ANGARI, to conduct shark research. It was an unforgettable experience and my first time seeing sharks in their natural environment. I felt like one of the students when the first shark was caught! It was so cool to see multiple shark species and watch the FIU scientists work alongside the students to collect data. I had a great time filming in a new environment, learning more about sharks and getting to capture the students participating in all the activities. Not only was I taking photos and videos onboard, but I got to engage with the students, teachers and FIU researchers myself. I learned about their marine science knowledge, passions, future goals and research focuses. It was a joy getting to meet every person and see how these expeditions impacted them. I got to see first-hand how passion, education and hands-on experiences inspire others and open new doors of possibilities!

Lagoon Drift has been another one-of-a-kind experience! Lagoon Drift is a citizen science program that aims to study and monitor the movement of marine debris and pollutants in local waterways using eco-friendly drift cards. I was able to assist in the drift card preparation, school visits and deployment, as well as filming each step along the way. I saw the extensive, behind the scenes work of drift card preparation to the thought-out planning and community partnership that goes into drift card deployment. Lagoon Drift shows the impact that citizen science can have in our local communities by bringing people together and furthering education on regional issues, like marine pollution. In addition, I even learned more about the local waterways in this area!

I am thankful I got to be hands-on and involved in the many different facets of ANGARI, from local events, school visits for Lagoon Drift and Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks, Lagoon Drift deployment, Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks expeditions and content creation. I loved helping out and getting to chat with people about ANGARI’s mission and programs. It was encouraging to see people curious and interested in marine science education and fulfilling that I got to share new knowledge with them! I was able to strengthen my skills across film, photography, editing and other valuable skill sets I’ll take with me into my next position. In addition, I solidified my passion for the environment, conservation and utilizing media to share these important topics with people.

As my time with ANGARI Foundation comes to an end, I will cherish this opportunity to be a part of this wonderful organization. I am thankful to have worked alongside enthusiastic people who continually work to reach a larger audience and share their excitement for marine ecosystems. I am excited to see how ANGARI Foundation continues to grow and expand their reach!