In the summer of 2005, Dr. Paul Barber founded the Diversity Project with a vision to increase access to careers in marine science by providing undergraduate students the opportunity to study marine biodiversity abroad. The project initially included Indonesia as its fieldwork destination, but more recently has taken students to French Polynesia. The program begins with students from universities across the US and French Polynesia coming together on UCLA’s campus to learn to SCUBA dive. They then head to the coral reef ecosystems in Mo’orea, French Polynesia, to learn to use SCUBA as a research tool. After this training is complete, students spend seven weeks in French Polynesia conducting fieldwork and collaborating on projects related to understanding ecological processes of local reef ecosystems. Many inhabitants of Mo’orea depend on the health and sustainability of these ecosystems, and the Diversity Project strives to contribute valuable information to the understanding of their ecological processes.

When the fieldwork destination was Indonesia, Dr. Barber and his team collaborated with Indonesian universities to establish the Indonesian Biodiversity Research Center. The center trained both UCLA affiliates and Indonesian students to study marine biodiversity. One notable project from that time studied the shark fishing industry in Indonesia and used genetic tools from the Diversity Project training as a forensic tool to identify shark fins to species. Further research revealed that there were significant fisheries for thresher sharks and scalloped hammerheads in Indonesia, both of which are species threatened with extinction. This research led to the Indonesian government passing new legislation to protect those sharks from fishing.

The program continues to have an impact on marine science knowledge that extends beyond the fieldwork destinations. Most participants of the program are inspired by the international experience and continue on to graduate school to expand their knowledge of related subjects. Several alumni hold leadership positions in organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, California Ocean Protection Council, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, furthering research in their fields.