September 10, 2026
Dr. Marwa Mahmoud

From Alexandria to Antarctica, my scientific journey has been long, passionate, and filled with adventure. Sometimes, when I look back at the road I have traveled, I feel proud that, as an Egyptian woman who began her journey at Alexandria University, I made it to one of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth. I took part in a two-month research expedition to Antarctica aboard the German research vessel Polarstern.

The experience was one of the most important milestones in my life because it brought together everything I love: the sea, science, travel, discovery, and the opportunity to work in an environment completely different from anything I had known before.

I am Dr. Marwa Mahmoud, an Egyptian marine scientist, and my journey with the sea began in Alexandria, a city where the sea was part of my everyday life. From a young age, I had a deep love for nature, travel, and adventure. I loved watching National Geographic and documentaries about the oceans, marine life, and remote parts of the world. They fascinated me and made me feel that the sea was a vast, mysterious world, filled with secrets that were still waiting to be discovered and understood.

I studied Oceanography and Chemistry at Alexandria University. There, my love for the sea evolved from a simple passion for nature and adventure into a clear scientific path. I began to understand that the ocean is a complex, living system, deeply connected to the climate, the carbon cycle, and even the future of humanity.

My first real international research experience took me to Chile. The journey from Egypt to South America took more than 24 hours. I traveled to Concepción to participate in specialized training on the marine environment and the diversity of marine microorganisms.

I spent a month there, meeting scientists and researchers from different countries and institutions. For the first time, I felt that I was part of a global scientific community and realized that my passion for the sea could take me to places far beyond anything I had imagined.

In Chile, I learned about marine ecosystems and the impact of climate and environmental changes on marine life. I also became familiar with marine measurement techniques and took part in a research expedition to collect samples. This experience was a turning point, confirming that marine science was the field I wanted to pursue.

After Chile, I traveled to Namibia to participate in the African Research Discovery Camp with an international research team. I spent a month there, taking part in a research expedition studying the formation of phosphorite and the role of microorganisms and marine processes in its formation.

That experience deepened my passion for marine science and taught me that every marine environment has a story, and that uncovering the secrets of the sea requires patience, curiosity, and teamwork.

After Chile and Namibia, my journey took me to Germany, where a new chapter of my scientific and personal life began. I completed a year-long training program and then began my PhD at the Alfred Wegener Institute and the University of Bremen.

I was not simply looking for an academic degree. I was looking for a genuine scientific adventure—one that would allow me to ask important questions about the sea and the climate.

My PhD research focused on the carbon cycle in sediments on the Antarctic continental shelf and on how sea ice, climate change, microorganisms, and chemical processes affect the storage and release of carbon from the seafloor. This research is particularly important because the Southern Ocean plays a fundamental role in regulating Earth’s climate.

Then came the biggest journey of my life: a research expedition to Antarctica aboard the German research vessel Polarstern.

The expedition lasted two full months and was a scientific and human adventure in every sense of the word. Being in such a remote place, surrounded by ice, extreme cold, and isolation; working alongside an international team to collect water and marine sediment samples; and taking part in scientific experiments aboard the ship was an unforgettable experience.

In Antarctica, I learned the meaning of patience, precision, and responsibility. We worked under extremely challenging conditions, but every sample we collected and every measurement we took brought us closer to understanding how melting ice and climate change affect the marine environment, the carbon cycle, and the global climate.

The expedition changed me profoundly. It was not simply a scientific journey; it became an important part of who I am. It taught me that science requires courage, and that researchers are not only searching for answers. They must also learn how to endure the journey toward those answers, adapt to difficult circumstances, and trust themselves.

During my PhD, I traveled to countries including the United States, Denmark, France, and Poland, where I participated in scientific training programs and conferences that greatly expanded my knowledge and experience.

But after completing my PhD, my focus began to shift toward another question: How can we translate scientific research into decisions and policies that protect the marine environment and our coasts?

This led me to become increasingly interested in ocean governance and marine policy. I participated in a United Nations training program in Malta, where I came to understand that science does not end with research and publications. Its impact comes when scientific knowledge reaches decision-makers and is translated into policies that protect both the sea and the people who depend on it.

Today, I focus on the connection between marine science, climate change, and environmental policy, particularly the protection of Egypt’s coasts. I am also interested in the blue economy and the opportunities it can create for young people.

I am currently working on a project aimed at integrating blue carbon into Egyptian climate policies and using scientific knowledge to protect our coasts and support environmental and climate decision-making.

My story is the story of a girl who began in Alexandria with a love for the sea, nature, and adventure, and who grew with every journey and every challenge until she reached Antarctica to study the sea, ice, and climate.

I hope the next chapter of my journey will be devoted to serving Egypt, protecting its coasts, and opening opportunities for women and young people to participate in marine and climate science.

I still believe that understanding the sea can help us build a better future.