You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Meet Natalie Robinson
Job:
Oceanographer.
Job description:
Collect measurements of temperature, salinity and current speed/direction in the ocean – especially Antarctica – and use those to understand processes.
Work background:
I am trying to understand the ‘nitty-gritty’ of these special processes, so that other people can use my findings to make better predictions of how the ice will respond to a warming ocean.
Favourite part of job:
Taking time to carefully think about what my data are telling me, and coming up with a really new idea. Oh, and I get to go to Antarctica for my job.
Least favourite part of job:
Leaving my kids for work each day, and for weeks when I have field work to do.
What I am working on now:
The next field trip will focus on ice crystals that naturally form in ‘supercool’ water – that’s water that should have frozen, but for a while remains liquid anyway. So, we have ice crystals bathed in water that wants to freeze – it makes for some really interesting processes.
Qualifications:
PhD in Marine Physics. I also have a degree in Accountancy and a diploma in performance piano.
Interests outside work:
Circus training, salsa dancing, long-distance running, knitting, spinning (yarn), raising my kids (ages 2, 4 & 6).
Meet Natalie Robinson, an oceanographer with NIWA. Image: Brett Grant.