Post-doctoral Researcher and Co-ordinator of the CenSeam (global census of marine
life on seamounts) programme.
What do you study and why is it important?
Previously I studied the microscopic algae that live
on mudflats and salt marshes. These are important because they
produce oxygen (and therefore have been compared to forests in
terms of their importance) as well as binding the sediments together
to stop them being washed away and also providing food for everything
else that lives in these ecosystems. My particular interests
were the micro-scale migrations that these organisms undertake
on a daily basis to model patterns of primary production.
In moving to New Zealand I moved from the inter-tidal to the deep
sea. My role in CenSeam is to coordinate the seamount community
to try and develop a global research approach to maximise skills/knowledge/funding
as well standardise how we work. If we are to truly understand
the oceans its essential to take a worldwide approach.
What will you be doing on the voyage?
I will be assisting in the biological collection and sorting of
samples collected from the seamounts.
Where were you educated?
I grew up in Scotland and stayed there for university, completing
both my Bachelors and PhD at St Andrews University.
How did you become interested in the ocean?
I moved to live besides the sea when I was 8 years old, so began
a lifetime of pottering and playing on the shore (not a lot has
changed in 21 years).
Do you get seasick? And if so, any tips on how not to?
Not to date…………we’ll see as
I have heard it varies from ship to ship – and this will
be my first time on RV Southern Surveyor!!!!!
What do you enjoy about your work?
I enjoy the people and the new experiences; so far I have travelled
to 3 continents to work in a variety of different environments
from snorkelling with stromatolites in the Bahamas to being waist
deep in mud in Venice to sampling under moonlight in Scotland.
I enjoy having control of each day and the freedom to carry on
learning new things.
What are some of the challenges you face?
The largest challenges I face are going from short-term contract
to short-term contract, I guess it keeps me on my toes!! And like
most people there are never enough hours in the day!!
What have you learned/discovered? What do you hope to
learn?
In my last job I determined that micro algae never do what you
expect, and what you get one day isn’t what you get the next
but my work enabled me to fill in some gaps in that black box.
In this job I hope to fill in even more gaps in what we know about
seamounts, and more so, how better to sample them so we might answer
some fundamental questions!!
How do you spend your spare time?
Attempting to mountain bike (very much a fearful rider!!), generally
exploring and hanging out with friends.
