Jyotika Virmani
President's Panel for Ocean Exploration Oral History Project
In the second half of 2020, Joanne Flanders conducted a series of Oral History interviews on behalf of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) around the topic of ocean exploration, with the objectives of providing interviews to the NOAA Voices Oral History Archives and initiating a collection on the topic. OER is also interested in using elements of the interviews in its own outreach and education products, including those created to inspire the next generation of explorers. Five ocean explorers participated including several members of the President's Panel for Ocean Exploration, a group whose recommendations led to the creation of OER 20-years ago. In the future, additional interviews will be conducted by OER, and possibly by other NOAA programs as well who are involved with the topic
On September 11, 2020, Joanne Flanders interviewed Dr. Jyotika Virmani via the Zoom platform. Dr. Virmani participated from Los Angeles, California, while the interviewer was in Bethesda, Maryland. The interview covers Dr. Virmani's early life, including her childhood in Manchester, UK, her family’s migration experiences, and her multicultural upbringing. She discusses her education, including her studies in atmospheric and oceanic sciences at Imperial College London, Stony Brook University, and the University of South Florida, where she completed her PhD despite significant challenges, such as data loss during field research. Dr. Virmani elaborates on her career trajectory, highlighting roles in academia, research, and leadership, including her work at the UK Met Office, the Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System Consortium, XPRIZE, and Schmidt Ocean Institute. She reflects on her experiences managing interdisciplinary collaborations, advancing oceanographic research, and developing large-scale initiatives like the Shell Ocean Discovery and Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE. The conversation also explores her personal interests, such as her affinity for science fiction, and her perspectives on resilience, adaptability, and leadership. Throughout, Dr. Virmani emphasizes the interconnectedness of atmospheric and oceanographic systems and the importance of innovation in addressing global challenges.
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