VICTORIA, Seychelles — Young Seychellois deep-sea scientist Sheena Talma is making history once again. She is currently on a mission in one of the most isolated corners of the planet, closer to astronauts aboard the International Space Station than to any human settlement. Ms Talma, a consultant with the UK-based non-profit Nekton since 2017, is the first Seychellois to explore the enigmatic depths of the South Sandwich Islands, a volcanic archipelago near Antarctica.
Her journey, part of the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Flagship Expedition, underscores a mission to accelerate ocean discovery while addressing urgent questions about life, the movement of plates, and resilience in Earth’s final frontiers. Ms Talma’s path to this expedition began with her work on Nekton’s earlier missions in the Seychelles and Maldives, where she became one of the first Seychellois to dive in a submersible and then co-lead a deep-sea exploration in the Seychelles EEZ with OceanX in 2017. Now she joins a multidisciplinary team aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Falkor (too), operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, to explore the South Sandwich Islands’ uncharted ecosystems.
‘This expedition feels like coming full circle,’ Ms Talma reflects. Her participation highlights her achievements and opens doors for aspiring scientists from small island nations. The expedition will analyse seafloor changes post-quakes, probing how underwater landslides amplify tsunami risks, a critical step in safeguarding coastal communities worldwide. To follow the expedition’s progress or apply for future opportunities, visit Ocean Census and Schmidt Ocean Institute.
