Tell us a little bit about yourself. Originally from the United Kingdom, I made the exciting move to Canada in 2021 to pursue my PhD. Since arriving here, I have become a keen runner both on the road and on the trails (dodging the bears and cougars!). I enjoy any activities outdoors including hiking, kayaking, and have even explored parts of British Columbia by canoe. I have also started truly immersing myself into Canadian culture by regularly watching hockey and I now avidly support the Vancouver Canucks! Living in Victoria on Vancouver Island has deepened my connection with the ocean, fostering a profound appreciation for this stunning place that I am lucky enough to call home. I am fortunate enough to be living on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples whose historical relationships with the land still continue to this day.
What kind of scientist are you and what do you do? As a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, I specialize in utilizing extensive microfossil datasets from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to unravel the complex relationships between the world’s oceans and climate over the past 65 million years. I use these datasets to generate maps of how microfossils such as planktic foraminifera, diatoms, and radiolarians have influenced deep ocean sedimentation patterns and how this relationship has changed over time. I do this using well constrained models of the Earth’s tectonic movements through the Cenozoic (~66 million years ago to present day). Additionally, two of my PhD chapters focus on the Miocene (~23-5 million years ago) where I am conducting work in the laboratory. Here, I am processing IODP deep sea drilling cores from different ocean basins to investigate how climate and tectonic shifts during this dynamic period of time have impacted upon ocean sedimentation and plankton ecology. I do this primarily by looking at abundance counts of the different carbonate- and silica-producing organisms present in the samples.
What is your favorite part about being a scientist, and how did you get interested in science? I have always had an interest in both geography and biology growing up, however, my first field trip to Iceland in 2012 was what really inspired me to study for my undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter, England, in physical geography. Here, I specialised in peatland ecosystems and reconstructing past environments over the last ~8000 years, tracking ash cloud movements across Europe. I achieved this by looking at crypto-tephra, which are microscopic fragments of volcanic ash that are incredibly well-preserved in peatland environments across the globe. During this degree, I fell in love with being able to get a snapshot of what the world would have looked like in the past, and I went on to get my Masters in Paleobiology at the University of Bristol. This is where I moved into deep-sea micropaleontology and studying the evolution of planktic organisms over much longer time periods. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a scientist is engaging with my peers and discussing our research together. As the first paleontology student in my department at the University of Victoria, I had a unique perspective of only being able to converse with colleagues about my work who were on the peripheries of my field. As a result, I gained incredible insight and learned so much from others that have allowed me to approach my work in a more holistic way.
How does your work contribute to the betterment of society in general? Studying the impact of climate upon planktic evolution and sedimentation rates through periods of warming and cooling across our global oceans provides critical insights into how marine ecosystems and environments might respond to future warming scenarios. By studying these historic patterns, we can better anticipate and understand the potential impacts of climate change on our oceans. I have the privilege of sharing these findings and interests, not only at conferences but also through my teaching role. As an instructor for laboratory sections in Paleobiology and Geological Oceanography classes, I teach third year undergraduate students in exploring the profound importance and influence of extinction events, tectonic processes, and oceanographic changes on evolution—from the earliest life forms to those that persist to the present day.
What advice do you have for up and coming scientists? Everyone in academia is intelligent, stand out by being kind 😊