Tiara Moore facts for kids

Tiara Moore is a scientist who works to protect nature. She is known for leading "Black in Marine Science Week" and for her work helping communities.

Her Journey in Science

Tiara Moore grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina. She earned her first degree in Biology from Winthrop University. After that, she got a master's from Hampton University in Virginia.

Later, Dr. Moore earned her Ph.D. (a very high science degree) in Biology from UCLA. For her Ph.D., she studied algal blooms in estuaries. Algal blooms happen when tiny water plants grow too much. Estuaries are places where rivers meet the sea. Since 2021, she has been a postdoctoral fellow at The Nature Conservancy, doing advanced research.

Helping Others and Making a Difference

Dr. Moore is well-known for her activism. In 2012, she shared her thoughts about conversations within the Black community in the Washington Post.

Black in Marine Science Week

She is most famous for creating the #BlackInMarineScienceWeek hashtag. This idea came after the Central Park birdwatching incident in 2020. Her role in starting this event was featured in many news outlets, including TV channels, NOVA, and Christian Science Monitor. The first Black in Marine Science Week took place from November 29 to December 5, 2020.

After the idea became very popular, Dr. Moore worked with others, like Camille Gaynus, to create a formal Black in Marine Science organization. She is now the CEO of this organization.

A WOC Space

Dr. Moore also started "A WOC Space." This is a place for women of color to connect and discuss cultural change. In 2020, she spoke to the press about how this online meeting space was affected by Zoombombing, which is when unwanted people interrupt online meetings. In 2021, the California Academy of Sciences featured Dr. Moore in a video about her work.

Her Research Work

Dr. Moore uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to help manage forests and increase biodiversity. Environmental DNA is like tiny traces of DNA left behind by living things.

Protecting Forests and Fighting Climate Change

Her research on using eDNA for forest management has been covered by science fans and in popular news. The goal of her work is to find better ways to manage forests. This helps to increase the variety of life (biodiversity) in forests. It also helps trees capture carbon, which is important for fighting climate change. Dr. Moore has talked about her work on "forensic ecology" with Alie Ward on her Ologies podcast. Forensic ecology uses science to understand how living things interact with their environment.

Awards and Recognition

In May 2021, Dr. Moore received an award from the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund. This award recognized her important work with Black in Marine Science and A WOC Space.