Across the world, science shapes everyday decisions: when it’s safe to sail, how to keep fish fresh, and which practices help communities adapt to a changing climate. Yet, for too long, the "science of the sea" has been viewed through a narrow lens, often overlooking the women who are the backbone of coastal economies. 

In Indonesia, scientific innovation goes beyond laboratories alone. It travels on fishing boats, power cold-storage units, and the knowledge passed from one generation to the next, powered by a new generation of female leaders who are redefining the innovation chain. This connection becomes clear through the work of three women whose leadership is shifting the future of small-scale fishing in Morotai and Tanimbar. 

Each of them - an engineer, a marine biochemist, and a socio-economic policy analyst - stands at a different point along the innovation chain. Yet, their stories share a common belief: that science must be rooted in people’s realities if it is to support their livelihoods. 

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we recognize that women’s leadership in STEM is not just about representation; it is a prerequisite for progress. Globally, women represent only 33.3% of researchers, and in ocean science, the gap remains a steep climb. By bringing their lived experiences to the forefront, these three Indonesian women are proving that when women lead, science becomes more inclusive, grounded, and human. 

From Data to the Open Sea: Dr. Nilam Sari Octaviani

For Dr. Nilam Sari Octaviani, S.T., innovation begins with data but never ends there. As a senior researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency or Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN), she leads research on renewable energy integration for the maritime sector, with a focus on solar-powered electric fishing boats. 

Through her research, Dr. Nilam found that Indonesia is home to nearly 800,000 small-scale fishing vessels, most of which still rely on conventional fuel engines. For many fishers, fuel can account for up to 60% of operational costs, highlighting both their dependence on fuel and its contribution to carbon emissions. The challenge is even greater in remote coastal areas, where limited access often drives fuel prices higher. Nilam looks at this challenge as a systemic one that affects both livelihoods and environmental sustainability. As she reflected, “I was thinking, what can we do to make clean energy solutions actually work for fishers?” 

So she went to the field. She listened to fishers describe their routes, their uncertainties, and their hopes for more affordable ways to work. These conversations shaped her research into solar-powered electric fishing boats, vessels designed as practical tools for everyday use. 

Today, in places like Morotai and Tanimbar, solar-powered boats and charging units shaped by Nilam’s research offer a quieter, cleaner, and more cost-efficient way to fish. For many fishers, it means more time at sea, less pressure on household budgets, and fewer emissions for coastal ecosystems already stretched by climate change. 

Protecting What the Sea Provides: Prof. Dr. Mala Nurilmala

While the journey begins at sea, the "gendered" nature of the value chain often appears at the shoreline. Women make up nearly half of the global fisheries workforce, yet they are frequently relegated to low-value, post-harvest roles with limited access to technology. Prof. Dr. Mala Nurilmala of IPB University is changing that equation through marine biochemistry. 

"The value of a fishing trip depends on what happens once the catch is onboard," Professor Mala explains. “In the heat of the tropics, fish—the primary protein source for millions—deteriorates rapidly. High post-harvest losses are a direct hit to the income of small-scale fishers.” 

Drawing on her expertise in marine biochemistry and aquatic product technology, Professor Mala helps ensure that cooling solutions developed under UNDP’s SeaBLUE project funded by the Government of Japan, in partnership with IPB University, are grounded in appropriate preservation conditions. 

Her role goes beyond introducing equipment. It involves translating scientific knowledge into practical systems that reflect real constraints such as long travel times, changing weather, limited infrastructure, and the economic realities faced by fishing communities in places like Morotai and Tanimbar. 

Used today in Morotai and Tanimbar, these units help fishers preserve freshness longer and produce ice for future trips — reducing waste, improving prices, and supporting community-run microbusinesses. 162 solar-powered cooler boxes have been distributed across coastal communities in these locations. Designed to function both as freezers and ice makers, the units help fishers maintain the quality of their catch while securing a more reliable ice supply for future trips. For many communities, this reduces dependence on external ice suppliers and opens opportunities for small, community-based income generation linked to ice production. 

In a field where applied fisheries science has long been male-dominated, Professor Mala’s leadership brings a perspective that places users at the centre of innovation. Her work demonstrates that rigorous science and attention to people’s needs are not separate pursuits, but part of the same effort to ensure technology truly supports livelihoods. 

Turning Innovation Into Everyday Change: Cornelia “Nina” Mirwantini Witomo 

Even the most promising technology cannot succeed without people who understand how to turn it into part of daily life.  This is where Cornelia Mirwantini Witomo, S.St.Pi., M.Ling., better known as Nina, plays a critical role. As a policy analyst at the Research Institute for Marine and Fisheries Socio-Economics under Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), her work sits at the intersection between innovation and everyday realities. 

Nina’s work begins with listening. Through interviews, discussions, and surveys, she pieces together what fishers need to adopt new tools safely and sustainably. She helps shape training programmes, guides access to competency certifications, and strengthens the systems that connect fishers to long-term government support. 

This is why her work under SeaBLUE focuses on strengthening fishers themselves. Capacity development ranges from fishing safety and operational skills to certification processes such as the Fisher Competency Certificate or Sertifikat Kecakapan Nelayan (SKN) and the Fishing Operations Competency Certificate or Sertifikat Kecakapan Penangkapan Ikan (SKPI). These certifications help ensure fishers are recognised, recorded, and better positioned to access government programmes and long-term support. 

To her, policy is about ensuring that innovations are not isolated pilots, but lasting improvements for communities. “Policy advocacy is a strategic effort to ensure that public policies favour the interests of the community, including small-scale fishers, women, and other vulnerable groups,” she explained. By linking evidence to policy processes, her work helps ensure that innovation does not remain a pilot initiative, but becomes part of systems that can sustain livelihoods over time. 

Three Leadership Pathways, One Shared Impact 

Together, Nilam, Prof. Mala, and Nina are not only advancing science, they are redefining who leads it. In fields where women remain underrepresented, their work shows that inclusive STEM produces stronger, more grounded solutions. By placing communities at the centre of research and innovation, they are helping make fishing safer, cleaner, more profitable, and more resilient for those who depend on the sea. 

This leadership is critical because the gender gap in the maritime world is more than just a number, it is an economic barrier. In Indonesia, women make up a huge part of the fisheries workforce, yet they often face a significant pay gap and have far less say in how technology is used. By stepping into these roles, Nilam, Prof. Mala, and Nina are shifting that balance of power. They are ensuring that as the industry modernizes, women aren't just spectators on the shore, but the architects of a more equal and inclusive economy. 

Through the SeaBLUE project, UNDP is helping clear the path for more women to step into these roles, but the heart of this success belongs to the women themselves. They chose science because they knew their communities deserved better tools and a fairer shot at a good life. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, they remind us that the future of Indonesia’s coasts isn’t just shaped by the technology we build, but by the women who ensure that technology actually works for everyone.

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Author: Anastasia Weningtias

Editor: Nabilla Rahmani, Thomas Benmetan