From developing software to caring for ocean health

After more than 14 years working in the IT industry as a software developer and product manager, Olivia Ann Grech transitioned to the ocean sector with the aim of contributing to the health and sustainability of the Mediterranean Sea and the wider ocean. To support this goal, she pursued and graduated from a full-time MSc in Applied Oceanography at the University of Malta funded by a tertiary education scholarship.

The programme adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining theoretical foundations with practical applications in both coastal and open-sea environments, while placing particular emphasis on operational oceanography and its real-world applications. The study units covered key methods and tools in the field, including ocean informatics, instrumentation and ocean data systems and ocean modelling.

The programme also addressed marine environmental management through an ecosystem-based approach, together with an introduction to ocean governance and policymaking. In addition, it explored effective science communication.

The practical components included an oceanography bootcamp and a work placement at the Ċirkewwa Marine Park, both of which were invaluable in developing hands-on skills. Through her dissertation, she conducted research in the field of marine conservation and restoration, an area in which she has a strong personal and professional interest.

Grech is grateful to the education ministry, which supported her academic endeavours by covering her tuition and bench fees through a scholarship funded and awarded under the Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme.