Ricardo Marques

Starting in Patagonia and finishing in Canada, marine biologist Ricardo Marques from Argentina is cycling across an entire continent visiting hundreds of schools to teach children about marine life and the importance of taking care of it.

With a degree in Marine Biology, Ricardo (fondly known as Ramtes) has devoted himself to teaching others about the importance of protecting both marine life and the world’s environment in general. His work has included taking tourists in Argentina to marine areas, studying marine life on fishing ships and teaching about the environment in hotels and schools.

“When I first saw marine life being destroyed I wanted to change it. We must do everything we can to preserve the marine environment. People don’t think about the future.”

Currently, due to family reasons, Ramtes has made a slight, though temporary, detour in New Zealand. And while in New Zealand, he has decided to take the opportunity to improve his English enrolling at AIS St Helens in Auckland.

“I love New Zealand. It has respect for human rights – that’s the most important thing. It has good education, respect for life and the environment. Very few people litter. It’s not perfect but it’s better than most of the countries I’ve seen.”

Fitness is a key requirement before undertaking a journey such as his, so while in New Zealand Ramtes is cycling every morning to AIS St Helens, where he studies in the English Language Centre. “My English has improved so much already, which is great because when I get up into Canada I’ll need to be teaching in English. I’m not planning on teaching in New Zealand at the moment because I don’t know enough about the marine life down here. However I am learning a lot and it is all useful knowledge I can take with me.”

When he resumes his journey in a few months, Ramtes plans to extend his teaching programme to include not only environmental issues and marine life, but also lessons on cities, and even New Zealand. “I also will definitely include a section on New Zealand because it’s such a good example to show the rest of the world, to show others that another kind of life is possible. Things in New Zealand are different – and that’s because the people here are different.

“I want to show people that they really can make a difference.”