What would you do for a scholarship? I biked down the coast of California ‘interviewing’ sea cucumbers

I have always been interested in invertebrate fisheries, and sea cucumbers are particularly fascinating in how they are fished and traded. Small-scale fishers, and often women, glean the shorelines throughout the Indo-Pacific to collect these wildly valuable invertebrates. They pass through the value chain to be sold for up to US$500 per kilo in China, where they are consumed as delicacies and used in traditional medicine.

Beyond their economic value, sea cucumbers provide innumerable benefits to reef ecosystems. They fight the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, help seagrasses grow, and aerate the seabed like earthworms. In short, they’re the unsung heroes of the ocean, supporting communities, safeguarding ecosystems, and powering a multi-million-dollar industry (and some murky markets, too).

Once I came to terms with the fact that I will forever be known as Sea Cucumber Girl, my supervisor Steve and I began designing a project that integrates sea cucumber trade, conservation policy, and the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk. My PhD investigates how international trade regulations under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) for six species of economically important sea cucumbers are affecting management, trade and livelihoods. However, we are specifically investigating these themes in the Western Indian Ocean, an area that is notably understudied but undeniably important.

It sounded too good to be true, and there was just one catch: as an American student researching African fisheries at an Australian uni, there weren’t many scholarships available. And I couldn’t start without one.

Enter stage right: Rotary

That’s when I discovered the Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarship, a lesser known scheme in international post-graduate research funding. Rotary International is a global service organisation dedicated to humanitarian action, peacebuilding, education, and environmental protection, while at the local level it is known for its community projects and grants.

While the application process is long, complex, with a lot of ‘checks and balances’ along the way, it's a scheme that fit with my qualifications and research plan. So I started cold calling every Rotary Club in Southern California. Literally. I emailed and called 30 clubs. One replied.

The Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club was hesitant at first, but after five months of collaborating on my scholarship application, they ultimately welcomed me with open arms. I joined them as an honorary member, attended their 6:30am meetings almost every Friday, helped with fundraising events, and learned the ins and outs of the Rotary Foundation and Global Grant Scholarships.

A hiccup, a Hail Mary, and a hilarious bike ride

After months of effort, we hit a roadblock. The Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club needed to contribute US$10,000 toward my scholarship funding, which they didn’t have. I was back at square one. With the deadline looming, I needed a creative solution.

So I strapped on a helmet, grabbed a GoPro, and launched the Cycle for Sea Cucumbers Ocean-a-thon, a 2-day ride down the California coast to raise the funds myself. Along the way, I stopped at 15 marine science ‘landmarks’, livestreamed quirky science videos, and invited people to pledge donations per stop.

Some highlights:

1. Pier Review — exploring the marine life under SoCal’s iconic piers.
2. What’s the Catch? — chatting with local fishers on the rocks.
3. Cool as a (Sea) Cucumber — And yes, I did interview a sea cucumber at the aquarium.

By the end of the ride, I had raised nearly US$8,000 and the Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club stepped in to cover the rest. With that, my application could advance to the Rotary District level, and eventually to the Rotary Foundation, where it was matched not once but twice, totalling AU$80,000 in funding for my PhD scholarship.

From California to Coffs Harbour

Upon arriving in Australia, the Coffs Harbour Daybreak Rotary Club became my host club. Their warmth and support made me feel instantly at home, and they’ve continued to cheer me on throughout the process.

The Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarship is a game-changer for international students and is designed to cover the cost of day-to-day living expenses. The funding is there; it just takes perseverance and some persistence in navigating frequent administrative pitfalls. It’s an incredible opportunity for future Southern Cross Uni students looking to conduct research that benefits both people and the planet, especially in underfunded or overlooked regions.

As for the research itself, I’ve been successful in securing a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct an in-depth case study in Tanzania. There, I’ll spend six months of my PhD investigating how CITES listings are shaping trade routes, management strategies, and the livelihoods of fisherfolk involved in the sea cucumber trade.

I’m incredibly grateful to Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary, Coffs Harbour Daybreak Rotary, and the Rotary Foundation for trusting me throughout the process. And to my supervisors, Steve Purcell and David Abrego, for mentoring me through the maze of project planning and for believing that I am up to the challenge. I hope to pay it forward by helping other students navigate the Rotary scholarship process and amplify the voices of communities that are often overlooked in conservation conversations.

My study will make sea cucumbers, and the people who depend on them, impossible to ignore!

Want to know more?

Go here for information about the Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarship.

And my socials are:

• Instagram: @duck.wizard
• LinkedIn: Taylor S Bratton