Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Rubio.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a marine biologist, researcher, and founder of Mar Sustentable Ciencia y Conservación. My career has always been connected to the ocean, but it has evolved in ways I never expected.
An important part of my journey happened here in San Diego, where I earned my Ph.D. at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. My academic training gave me a strong scientific foundation, but over time I became increasingly interested in understanding not only marine ecosystems, but also the relationships between people and the ocean.
After returning to Mexico, I began developing independent research in the Mexican Caribbean and eventually founded Mar Sustentable. Our work combines science, local ecological knowledge, environmental education, and science communication to better understand and protect marine ecosystems.
One of our main initiatives today is Sharkwatch Cozumel, an interdisciplinary project documenting sharks around Cozumel through underwater research, historical information, and the knowledge of fishers, divers, and the local community.
More recently, I have also begun exploring how emerging technologies can support conservation. Through Artizen, Sharkwatch has entered the Web3 ecosystem, and I now serve as Director of the Ocean Fund for Living Seas. I was also selected as a SheFi Scholar, which has allowed me to learn about Web3 alongside a global community of women working with emerging technologies.
Now I’m entering another exciting chapter: I’m planning to expand Mar Sustentable into the United States. In many ways, it feels like coming full circle—returning to the country where an important part of my scientific journey began, but this time bringing with me everything I have built and learned through years of conservation work in Mexico.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but looking back, I think many of the difficult moments have shaped both the scientist and the person I am today.
One of the biggest transitions for me came after finishing my Ph.D. at Scripps and returning to Mexico. I had spent many years in universities and established research institutions, and suddenly I had to figure out how to build a scientific career on my own. There wasn’t a clear path in front of me. I started applying for grants, reaching out to people, building collaborations, and developing my own research ideas. Little by little, that journey eventually became Mar Sustentable.
And then I discovered that creating a nonprofit was another learning process entirely! As scientists, we learn how to do research, analyze data, and publish papers, but nobody really teaches you how to fundraise, run an organization, communicate on social media, build a team, or find support for an idea you believe in. I have learned so much simply by doing things, making mistakes, adjusting, and trying again.
Being a Latina and a woman building an international career in science has also come with challenges. Over time, I’ve learned that sometimes you have to create your own path, especially when the traditional one doesn’t quite fit who you are or what you want to accomplish.
Maybe that is one of the biggest lessons from my career: I’m no longer afraid of being a beginner. I’m experiencing that again now as I learn about Web3 and emerging technologies. It is a completely new world for me, and I actually find that exciting. I don’t need to know everything from the beginning. I just need to stay curious, keep learning, and be open to where that curiosity might take me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a marine biologist, but over the years I’ve realized that my work is really about connecting people with the ocean. I founded Mar Sustentable Ciencia y Conservación to create a space where I could bring together research, conservation, education, and the knowledge of the people who live and work by the sea.
One project I’m especially proud of is Sharkwatch Cozumel. We study sharks using underwater observations, historical information, and the knowledge of fishers and divers, but an equally important part of the project is sharing what we learn. Education has become a big part of my life. I work with children from local and international communities, undergraduate and graduate students, and young scientists. I love seeing someone become curious about the ocean and realize that they can also have a role in protecting it.
Being a woman leading my own organization is also something I value deeply. It has taken time to find my voice and become comfortable creating my own path. One thing I’ve learned is not to be afraid of being a beginner. That is exactly what I’m doing now with Web3. Through SheFi and Artizen, I’m learning about emerging technologies and exploring how they might create new opportunities for conservation. I also serve as Director of Artizen’s Ocean Fund for Living Seas, which gives me the opportunity to support ideas beyond my own projects.
And now I’m thinking about another new beginning in San Diego. I lived there for almost ten years, and it is where I built much of my scientific character at Scripps, but also friendships and a deep connection with the border culture. I would love to develop a new Mar Sustentable project there.
To me, San Diego has always been a place of cultural exchange. Living there helped me understand how connected our communities are across the border, and I think the same way about our ecosystems. The ocean doesn’t recognize borders. Marine species move between regions, and environmental challenges are shared. I love the idea that science and conservation can also connect people across cultures, and that wherever we live, we can all participate in taking care of the ecosystems that connect us.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Likes: I love being around positive communities—people who are curious, collaborative, and genuinely want to make a difference. I especially enjoy connecting with people who care about improving the health of our oceans and the environment, whether they come from science, education, technology, art, or simply a love for nature. I believe meaningful change happens when people with different backgrounds come together around a shared purpose.
Dislikes: I don’t like the idea that environmental problems are too big for individual people or small communities to make a difference. I’ve seen through my work that change often starts small—with curiosity, education, collaboration, and people who care enough to get involved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marsustentable.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marsustentable1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marsustentable
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-t-rubio-cisneros-46600685/
- Twitter: https://x.com/MarSustentable
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuhC095mcTjsjsbQ6vN1jVQ/videos
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@marsustentable1?lang=en
