This story is a part of the GenOcean campaign — an official Ocean Decade campaign showcasing Decade Actions, collaborating organizations and ocean leaders that focus on youth and citizen science opportunities to help anyone, anywhere be the change the ocean needs.
If you ask Lizzie Murray, surfer, world traveler and ocean conservationist, why we should protect surf breaks, she might tell you about how they have the potential to preserve a way of life, local tourism and marine ecosystems. These were some of the reasons she moved to the village of Katiet in the Mentawai Islands. Another was her desire to leverage the power and connection of the ocean to empower girls and women in Indonesia through the sport of surfing.
“I realized that in my decade of visiting Indonesia I had never seen Indonesian girls surfing or swimming,” says Murray. “Further, research showed that more women and children died in tsunamis, and Indonesian students repeatedly rank amongst the bottom ten countries globally for numeracy, literacy and science. These are clear gaps that need filling, and with the locals asking for help, I wanted to address them in ways I could.”
On her next surf trip to the Mentawai Islands, Murray helped the villagers of Katiet be a part of the surf tourism that was developing on their shores to have a say in what happened in their village. Murray recognized the same passion and enthusiasm she had for surfing present in the local community and how that passion could be used as a foundation to make a much bigger impact. She sold up, moved to Katiet and together created A Liquid Future (ALF), a nonprofit with the tagline “surf for good” and a mission to eradicate poverty and save our ocean.
Now, Murray brings the same passion and ethos to a new initiative called Surfer Scientists. While the project stemmed from the foundation that A Liquid Future built, it is already growing in ways beyond ALF’s scope and has rightly deserved its own spotlight.
Surfer Scientists aims to address three Ocean Decade Challenges:
2 – Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity
7 – Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System
10 – Restore society’s relationship with the ocean
“Surfer Scientists was endorsed as an Ocean Decade Action in 2024 and has since taken off, expanding with partners from Portugal, Brazil, Côte D’Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Sweden, Ireland and Australia,” says Murray. “It’s a project that invites surfers from any community to use accessible and affordable technology to contribute to ocean science. This democratization of science helps bridge the gap between high-tech scientific research and the grassroots knowledge of people who are closest to the issues at hand. We’ve already got tons of interest in the program from marine scientists who are excited to use this data in their research and contribute to innovative ocean education products.”
In fact, many marine scientists were surprised to learn about this untapped community of people that could be contributing to ocean science. With over 35 million surfers worldwide, the potential to capture temperature, bathymetry, tidal and water quality data is immense. And, people are having fun collecting data while on the water, knowing the impact it could make in their communities.
Surfer Scientists uses a variety of devices best suited for the mode of collection, the needs of the community and access to the materials. One type of device that tracks GPS coordinates and water temperature data allows users to collect important data documenting rising sea surface temperatures in localized and specific areas where they surf, swim, paddle board or boat. This device was tested in citizen science water breaks Murray and her collaborators hosted at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, June 2025.
“The enthusiasm, ease of use and potential impact of the sensors hit home to all those taking part in our recent paddle boarding citizen science sessions we hosted at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice,” says Murray.
Why should we engage surfers in particular in this kind of citizen science?
“Surfers interact with their local surf breaks almost every day,” she says. “They are in tune with the ocean environment and weather patterns, and often the first to notice changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. They care about their environment and, when given the tools to protect it, will do so determinedly.”
Surf breaks are renewable resources. If protected and managed well, surf breaks and surfing can provide healthy lifestyles and sustainable futures. Even surf tourists embody a pioneering and adventurous spirit and are often the first foreigners to visit remote coastal regions, making both locals and island visitors candidates to participate in this new project endorsed by the Ocean Decade.
And it’s not just surfers who can contribute to the mission of Surfer Scientists, paddle boarders and water enthusiasts alike can join in this citizen science initiative.
What about the next generation facing new ocean challenges as they paddle out to their beloved surf breaks? Surfer Scientists recognizes the unique challenges young people face and are especially encouraged to get involved as youth make up a significant amount of the population in African, Asian, Latin American and island countries with bountiful marine habitat to protect.
“The project not only engages young surfers in citizen science but also empowers them to take on leadership roles within their communities,” says Murray. “By giving youth the tools to map surf breaks, monitor ocean health and contribute to global data, Surfer Scientists can nurture the next generation of ocean leaders who are both scientifically informed and deeply passionate about protecting the environments they cherish.”
No matter your age or profession, there are many avenues for tangible impact through Surfer Scientists. Whether you are a surfer, a scientist, part of an organization or non-profit, or anyone who cares about protecting the cultural, environmental and economical sustainability of surf breaks and their surrounding marine ecosystem, there are actions you can take to support this project. Learn more about how you can get involved in Surfer Scientists here.
Read more GenOcean stories on our webpage.
