World renowned scientist connects with Gwen Liz students

Representatives of Oceana, the NGO dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, made the media rounds on Monday to explain their mission as they launched their Belize operations. Today, the renown scientist, Daniel Pauly, made another stop and addressed an unlikely audience. News Five’s Jose Sanchez was at the Gwen Lizarraga High School where marine life took on a whole different meaning.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
On Monday night world renowned marine scientist, Daniel Pauly, gave a lecture at the Bliss Institute about the state of the world’s Oceans to scholars and the public. But on Tuesday Pauly took time out to speak to first form students of Gwen Lizarraga High School who have little experience with reefs or oceans.

Daniel Pauly, Oceana Board of Director
“I know that they are aware that other schools and other kids that are older went to an event that they probably cannot imagine. So I tried to present the event from a perspective that they can get. I probably did not succeed because the medium is different and because the context is different. But at least the person who presented at the event is there and is saying things to them. I will try to do something in the course of next year, when I come back.”

Though the Atlantic Ocean is a world away from Gwen Liz., he sparked the interest about marine life in some students.

Melissa Mahler, Gwen Lizarraga Student
“How many years did you study fish?”

Daniel Pauly
“I studied fish in my masters, that was four years, and later I did the PhD very fast, that was two years. In between I worked in Asia, that was two years. So all together my higher studies were about eight years.”

Naniy Estrada, Gwen Lizarraga Student
“Were you raised in a rich family?”

Daniel Pauly
“Actually it’s the opposite. I was raised by a family that was not only quite poor, they semi-adopted me and they had two sons that ended up in jail. I was much smaller and was watching all the things happening around me and—this is really true—I decided that the things they were doing, I didn’t like them. I wanted rather a life of learning and interacting with the society around me in a positive way.”

Melissa Mahler
“I feel more interested because first I didn’t know about fish and other stuff about it and he come to our class today and explain about fish and how many years he was studying it I think it is interesting and I am going to wait until he comes back and teach us more about it.”

Rheonna Rivero, Gwen Lizarraga Student
“I love it because I neva learn about fish in many years and now I know about fish and I am glad that he comes and give some information and I would like to learn more about fish.”

Pauly’s life story of overcoming adversity to a life of professional success may have been the most important lesson that struck a cord with students.

Naniy Estrada
“Well I feel very impressed, him coming from a poor family, he is very known and he gives a very good example by giving us that you don’t have to be rich to more about science and fisheries and more exciting things and if you are poor you can still be successful in life.”

The short dialogue with the students made an impact with Pauly. He promised that on his next visit to Belize, he would also return to Gwen Liz.

Daniel Pauly
“I did come from a difficult background and I did have to go across the bridge, which you tell me these kids have problems doing and I did not have a vision of what I could be. I had later got a mother who, just like in the movies, intervenes from the outside and tell you, you can be more than what your condition is leading you to. I can perfectly understand what happens to them. I will come back and when I come back I will really participate in something that we can do here.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.