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Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Postgraduate student at the University of Otago.
Looking at toxins within our delicious shellfish in Marlborough/ Tasman Bay, Fiordland and Otago Harbour.
I have been a university student my entire professional life. Through my time at uni I have also had opportunities to work as a Science Diving Assistant and Research Intern.
I enjoy a wide range of activities in my job, however, diving to explore new and different marine environments and collect samples to broaden our understandings of these places is by far my favourite aspect of this job.
Unpacking from extended field expeditions.
Currently I am dissecting a variety of shellfish from the Marlborough/Tasman Bay Region. These shellfish vary in size from smaller than a ping pong ball to nearly the size of a rugby ball. These shellfish will help us further understand the links between the activities people do on land and the impacts these have on the marine environment.
Actually finding the organisms I want to study is always a highlight!
We had been surveying marine communities on transplanted coral reef blocks off Moku o Lo‘e in Hawai‘i. This had to be done every second day for months. On one particularly memorable day there was a bit of a storm, the swell, wind and whipping rain made for an incredibly difficult field day. I learned that you will spend over 8 hours in stormy waters for projects you are truly invested in.
Marine Biology BSc.
Spending time with friends and family tramping, climbing, swimming, surfing, diving and cooking.
Clara Schlieman is a postgraduate student at the University of Otago. Image: Supplied.