Delving Deeper into Life as a Marine Biologist
As a child I watched a lot of Discovery Channel and National Geographic and decided that, aged 6 years old, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I chose an entire career for one reason: because it seemed like a lot of fun. The academic work it took to secure that career was a little less fun, but I certainly made the most of it. I acquired an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and then pursued a graduate research degree in the same field. Although my research is focused on nearshore fish ecology, I never intended to limit my skills and experience to one ecosystem. My goal to be a rounded scientist is why I always seek out opportunities that can contribute to both my personal and professional growth.
In September 2022, I had the privilege of partaking in the Multidisciplinary Training in Polymetallic Nodules Project Management Internship. This was hosted by the Interoceanmetal Joint Organisation (IOM) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in partnership with the University of Szczecin, Poland and the University of Chemistry and Technology, Czech Republic. The extraction of minerals from the ocean floor by deep sea mining is a major environmental issue. As a planet we are already reeling from the effects of burning fossil fuels for the past century. Therefore, it is imperative that there are baseline assessments and strict regulations and guidelines that must be adhered to before deep-sea mining happens, so that exploitation of the deep ocean does not go unmonitored.
At the University of Szczecin, my training modules included Marine Geology, Geotechnical engineering, Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC) and Environmental Strategies for Deep Sea Exploration. I was also trained in metallurgic processing of polymetallic nodules at the University of Chemistry and Technology. Of these modules, the LOSC and the Environmental Strategies of Deep-Sea exploration were of most importance to me. These modules deepened my understanding of Exclusive Economic Zones, Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction and the importance of why baseline studies should take place before any deep-sea extraction work is carried out.
In June 2023, I joined Seafields Solutions Limited as the Programme Support Officer. Seafields’ innovative ways of turning Sargassum biomass into useful products and for carbon sequestration includes working both in shallow, nearshore waters as well as in deeper, open waters. This role aligns perfectly with my nearshore ecological expertise and my developing deep-sea experience. The knowledge I gained from my previous training was put into practice when I began preparations for the JC260 cruise aboard the Royal Research Ship James Cook.
The JC260 cruise is part of the first phase of the SeaSINC project “Evaluating the effects of seaweed sinking in the Caribbean”. To carry out this pilot study off the coast of Barbados, permissions from governmental stakeholders in Barbados and the UK were sought. This is where my familiarity with the LOSC and best practice and management when operating in a country’s exclusive economic zone proved particularly useful.
In December 2023, the JC260 cruise set out to conduct baseline assessments of two sinking sites. Here, my theoretical knowledge on marine geological sampling was put into practice. To map the seafloor an echo sounder, which measures the time it takes for sound to reach the seafloor and return to the surface, is used. Aboard the James Cook I saw the multibeam echosounder yield real time data, as it mapped sizeable sections off the coast of Barbados.
To sample seafloor sediments, corers are used to push and grab sediment into containers. On JC260 I saw two types of sediment corers, the mega-corer and the gravity corer, deployed and samples retrieved. These were used to sample the benthos for geochemistry measurements and faunal communities. I had previously already used the specific Strater software at the University of Szczecin, to visualize the lithology of sections obtained from a multi-corer from the Clarion Clipperton Zone. While I understood theoretically how these sediments were obtained, on JC260 I was able to turn theory into practice and use the piston and cutting plate to slice these sediment sections. Assisting with the epibenthic faunal sampling was also a highlight for me – seeing and holding a deep-sea polychaete in my hand was truly remarkable.
Putting the theory into practice! These images show the preparation and analysis of sediment cores and measuring instruments.
After my training in Poland and Czech Republic in 2022, I attended the Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative (SSKI) Inception workshop, hosted by ISA and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) in Seocheon, Republic of Korea. In October 2023, I took part in the Seafloor Microbial Ecosystem Services mini workshop hosted by the Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS) and the Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator (COBRA) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Since October 2023, I have been a part of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative’s Climate Change working group and part of a group of volunteers compiling a baseline and indicator report on microbial ecosystem services that could be impacted by deep-sea mining.
While the training, workshop and cruise were amazing experiences in and of themselves, the most tremendous part of these was the people involved. Meeting, learning, and receiving mentorship from senior researchers in the deep-sea field and connecting with fellow early career researchers has proven to be invaluable. The mutual respect and comradery I have experienced being a part of this deep-sea network is so special and it really makes me excited for the next phase of my career.
I am happy to be entering 2024 as a 2024 COBRA Masterclass Fellow. I am learning the skills and tools to successfully design, propose and execute deep-sea oceanographic field research. The main output of this will be a Dream Cruise where each fellow must plan a deep-sea expedition cruise as the chief scientist in the project. I am truly loving these opportunities and I look forward to venturing deeper into my career and the oceans as a deep-sea scientist. The six year-old who chose a career purely based on how fun it seemed sure is proud and content with their decision now!
