Hailing from Nigeria, the path for Oluyemisi Oluwadare into deep-sea science was neither linear nor accidental. Trained initially as an exploration geochemist and economic geologist, Oluwadare worked for over two decades with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) where she supported regional geochemical mapping and delineated mineral prospectivity zones to support investment engagement, resource assessments, and subsequent exploration drilling programmes. With Oluwadare’s extensive background in terrestrial mining systems and her curiosity to expand her scientific horizon, the scale, processes, and resource potential of the deep sea presented an exciting new frontier to explore. Her formal transition into marine geoscience began with ISA’s Deep Dive Online Training Programme, where she completed all three modules consecutively, graduating in 2023. The Deep Dive offered her first structured exposure to the scientific, legal and governance dimensions of the deep seabed, from mineral resources and environmental protection to the science-policy interface that underpins international ocean governance.
