Latasha Wright: Stay on the Boat

Biologist Latasha Wright is forced to confront her fear of the ocean when she visits the coral reef she's been studying.

Latasha Wright received her Ph.D. from NYU Langone Medical Center in Cell and Molecular Biology. After her studies, she went on to continue her scientific training at Johns Hopkins University and Weill Cornell Medical Center. She has co­authored numerous publications and presented her work at international and national conferences. In 2011, she joined the crew of the BioBus, a mobile science lab dedicated to bringing hands­on science and inspiration to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The BioBus creates a setting that fosters innovation and creativity. Students are encouraged to ask questions, formulate hypotheses, and design experiments. Through the BioBus, Latasha was able to share her love of science with a new generation of potential scientists. Everyday that she spends teaching students about science in this transformative environment helps her remember that science is fun. She loves sharing the journey of discovery with students of all ages. In 2014, the BioBus team launched an immersive, un­intimidating laboratory space called the BioBase, a community laboratory model. At the BioBase students are encouraged to explore their scientific potential through in­-depth programming and hands­-on experimentation. Latasha has lead the efforts in establishing this community laboratory model, and hopes to build on its success in other communities. The efforts of the BioBus’ team to promote science education to all communities in New York City has been recognized by numerous news outlets, including the WNYC science radio program Hypothesis. Additionally, Latasha has been featured as NY1’s New Yorker of the Week.

This story originally aired on Aug. 25, 2017, in an episode titled “Exploration.”

 
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Latasha Wright: Stay on the Boat

Biologist Latasha Wright is forced to confront her fear of the ocean when she visits the coral reef she's been studying.

 

Story Transcript

So after four years of college, got a BS in chemistry, six years of graduate school, got a PhD in cell and molecular biology, three years of postdoc-ing -- yeah, I know -- and another two years, because one postdoc wasn’t enough.  I needed to do two because I’m an overachiever like that.  So after fifteen years of trying to become a research scientist, I realized that I’m really a science enthusiast.  Not really.  Yeah, I don't have what it takes, you know?

Those research scientists they have to like dig in like lasers, like, “This is the point between the point in between the point,” and I’m more like that dog in Up, you know, like, “Global warming! What?  What?  Huh?” 

“Photosynthesis! What?  Yeah, yeah.  I wanna do that.” 

“Particle physics! I can do that.  Yeah, I got that!” 

Nah.  That’s not what I was.  So I decided to use this great talent of mine and really parlay it into another career. 

So I joined the BioBus because it’s like science outreach.  And when I joined it was an actual bus.  It looked like something out of The Partridge Family.  It’s got all kinds of colors on it and little kids are in there like, “Hey, the hippies are coming,” and I’m like, “Yeah, that’s me, man.”  I started wearing tie dye, and we were all in there and doing science and I was a scientist with the kids and kids are looking up to me and I’m like, “Yeah, I’m a big deal, you know.” 

So I started that and we were doing it for a long time and then it was successful.  You know, a scientist who loves science teaching kids.  Yeah, that worked. 

Then we got a phone call one day.  Stay with me because it gets weird a little bit right now.  So it’s from the U.S. Forest Service.  Yeah.  And they're like, “Yes, so could you guys like consult with us and teach us how to do this in other countries with other NGOs?” 

And we’re like, “Yeah!  Go to other countries, I got that, yeah.” 

So this woman whose name was Natasha -- she's super sweet, even shorter than me -- and then Christina from the Forest Service so they showed up. And then they brought with them this man from Egypt.  His name was Omar. 

I don't know if you've ever met somebody the first time you meet them you're like, “Are you my daddy?”  Because he was just such a force of nature and he was just so passionate and everything, and I was just like, “I just want your approval.”

Yeah, let’s not talk about that. 

So then, after all of this work, he was like, “Yeah, you guys should come to Egypt and help us.”  So they were getting a BioBoat.  Like a yacht.  A yacht, guys.  A yacht in Egypt. 

And I was like, “Yeah, I can help you.  Yeah, I could do that.” 

So he wanted me to develop a marine biology curriculum for the Red Sea.  I got that, yeah.  Because I've always wanted to go to Egypt, right?  When I was little, I used to think about like, Oh, I want to see the pyramids and ride on the camels.  I used to watch Charlton Heston parting the Red Sea.  I’m from Mississippi, guys.  Sorry.  I was like totally going to go like this when I see the Red Sea, and I'll see what happens.  I don't know.  It might part. 

So we get there and then I get into his office because I really worked hard.  I YouTubed and I did all that science stuff.  I’m ready.  I got my PowerPoint, ready to tell them how wonderful I am and show him this curriculum, and he's like, “Wait.  Hold on, hold on.  You can’t develop a curriculum about coral reefs in the Red Sea without seeing them.” 

I’m like, “Uh, but I did.” 

And he's like, “No, no, no.  I understand what you did, but I want you to see the coral reefs.” 

And I’m like, “Oh, this is awesome.  Yeah, I love boats.  Cool.  No prob.  Yeah, this is really cool.”

So the next day, me, Natasha, Christina, my peeps from the Forest Service, we go to the docks and we’re getting on a boat and I realize they have their bathing suits on.  I’m like, “Wait.  This is an underwater thing?  Hold on.”  I’m like, “Wait.”

As you know, as we heard earlier, open water, that’s where sharks live.  So I don't actually go in the ocean.  I’m getting so nervous because there's a lot of anxiety, right?  Because I’m like, “What?  You want me to go in the water?  Oh, okay.” 

So we get there and we’re on the boat and I’m with my colleagues Natasha and Christina.  They're all super happy and they're like, “Oh, it’s so sweet that Omar did this.” 

And I’m like, “Yeah, sweet.  So he's very sweet.  Yeah.” 

So then I started trying to think what are my escape plans, because I really love boats and I just want to hang out on the boat and stuff, but I can’t really tell Christina and Natasha that I’m really, really scared because I’m their coral reef expert who’s so scared to go in the water.  That’s probably not what they want to hear. 

So then I just started trying to be cool and be like, “Hey, guys.  Just so you know, I’m not a strong swimmer.” 

They're like, “Oh, no, that’s fine.” 

“Okay.” 

So we get more people going on the boat and I’m like, okay, and we’re going out further and further in the water, and I hear Omar’s voice, “You can’t make a curriculum about coral reefs if you've never seen a coral reef.”  And I’m like, “Okay, so what am I gonna do?"

And like my mom’s voice is like, “Stay on the boat.  You know, you should stay on the boat.” 

So there's this, “You can’t make a curriculum,” and my mom, “Stay on the boat,” and I’m like, “Ahh!” 

So then we go out further, we go out further and then I started getting really, really nervous.  I say, “Hey, guys, you know I've never been snorkeling.” 

They're like, “Oh, it’s pretty fun.  It’s just easy.  Just, you know, stuff.  Get in there.  Water, float, you know.” 

And I’m like, “Okay.” 

So then they start kind of looking at me like, “Why is she making all of these excuses?” 

So then I was like, “Hey, this is a beautiful sunset.  Hey, let’s take pictures.  Selfie, selfie… who wants to do a selfie with me?”  Just so that I could look kind of like I’m cool and stuff. 

So then we get closer and closer.  We’re in the middle of the water.  I can’t see any land.  Then our guide comes up to us and we start mooring, because he says, “Everybody, the water’s really choppy.  Really, really choppy.  So if you can’t swim well you need to stay behind the boat.” 

And everybody’s like, “Yeah, okay.  No problem.”  And I’m like, “Oh, God.”  And I was like, “Okay,” so I nod my head like a lemming and I get in the line like everybody else, got my snorkel. 

So then I say, “Sir, can I please”—because I noticed that no one else has on a lifejacket, and so I go to there and I’m like, “Hey, sir, may I have a lifejacket?” 

He looks at me like I said the most ridiculous thing that anybody’s ever said to him.  So he yells to this other guy and they come back with this lifejacket that… I’m not sure it was a lifejacket.  It was just like in its previous life it was like one of those shirts, since I was like a bottle.  And I was just like, “Okay.” 

So they put this lifejacket on me then everybody starts looking at me because they're like, “Okay, this one is gonna be trouble.” 

And he tells me, “Oh, if you get in trouble, just raise your hand when you're in the water.” 

I’m like, Is this elementary school?  What do you mean, raise your hand?  When I’m drowning?  That’s what you mean?  I’m gonna be like, “Oh, I’m drowning.  Please help me.”

No.

So I’m like, Okay, so what are you going to do?

Then I get in the line and I see the moment of truth.  What should I do?  I hear Omar’s voice in my head saying, “You can’t do curriculum for the Red Sea if you've never been in the Red Sea.”  And I hear my mom saying, “You better stay on that boat, girl.” 

Then I like see the ladder, others climbing down.  So I get to the edge and I’m looking at the water, and this looks like the Jaws are down there or something.  I don't know.  I was just so scared.  But instead of taking the ladder, because I can’t force myself to do that, I just jump in the water. 

I could hear while I’m jumping all of the people on the boat going, “Ohhhh!” because they thought that I just slipped off the ladder. 

Then I submerged, then I came back up.  I started panicking because I could still hear my mom’s voice in my head like, “Get back on the boat!  Get back on the boat!”  And Omar’s voice like, “Uhh, I don't know why I trusted you.” 

Then something miraculously happened.  Natasha jumps in, she looks at me and she says, “Just look down.”  

It’s amazing, but I just look down and all the voices stopped.  It was just silence.  And I saw the most beautiful sight that I've ever seen.  I saw the colors, I saw little fish coming at each other.  I just wanted to be immersed in this world.  It was almost like a religious experience.  And all of the fear that I had went away and it was completely, completely worth it. 

Thank you.