Meet a Wavemaker: Amelia Bianchi

May 3, 2016

Here at Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, our mission is to inspire the next generation of ocean caretakers. In our “Meet a Caretaker” series, we feature inspirational young artists, activists, writers, filmmakers, poets, conservationists, and anyone working to clean and protect our oceans.

Give us a picture of who you are. Where are you from, and what do you love?

I am from Durham, Connecticut (USA), and I love anything to do with the ocean and nature. I also love art, and much of my art ends up being about the ocean and the animals that live in it because I find them so fascinating.

What is your connection to the ocean?

Ever since I can remember my family has had a boat. Every weekend in the summer my family would spend the night on my boat, and I always loved to walk to the beach or along the docks and look for different ocean creatures. To this day I still love being on boats and going to the beach. This constant connection to the ocean is what has made me want to study it by becoming a marine biologist.

Do you have a favorite ocean species?

My favorite ocean species is the peacock mantis shrimp. I find mantis shrimp fascinating, especially one as colorful as the peacock mantis shrimp.

 What were some successes and challenges you faced in putting your project together?

Some challenges I had with my art was that it was difficult for me to come up with a cohesive theme in the work that would get the point across that I wanted it to. Some successes I had were that I felt that there was a lot of detail in all the garbage and animals coming out of the water bottles in my artwork. I also felt that the prose I wrote got its point across well and in an interesting way.

“Bottled Ocean” by Amelia Bianchi, 2015 High School Honorable Mention in Art

How has participating in the project changed the way you think about plastic pollution? Have you made any changes in your everyday life?

Participating in this project has made me more aware of how much of an issue plastics are in the ocean and how prevalent they are in everyone’s lives around the world.

Have you been involved in other environmental or conservation projects since participating in the contest?

I attended a talk at my school about what college students can do about global climate change. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was the speaker.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself as a marine biologist working to discover new ecosystems and species out at sea, and making a difference in the health of the ocean.

What advice would you give to other young people who want to protect the ocean?

I would tell them that they should dream of making a big difference because they can, even if it seems against the odds. One person can make a huge difference, and in this century what we need to save — the ocean — is something big. We should never stop believing that we have a huge impact on the world around us.

Are you a creative middle or high school student that loves the ocean as much as Amelia does? Do you want to make art that makes a difference? Submit to the 2016 Ocean Awareness Student Contest by June 13. You may win up to $1,500 for you and your school!