MRM, B.A. (Hons)
RESEARCHER
I have a Master's degree in Coastal and Marine Management from the University of Akureyri and the University Centre of the Westfjords, Iceland; the program is designed to situate graduates at the interface of science, technology, management, and innovation. The Master's of Natural Resource Management harmonizes well with my deep love of social-ecological systems, ecosystem-based management, and biogeography. My undergraduate degree in Geography and Biology was also heavily focused on adding the human dimension to ecosystem management and environmental conservation.
During my education, and in employed positions since, I have conducted and participated in a number of diverse research projects. The majority of my work can be divided into Marine & Other Sciences (largely marine ecology, oceanography, and geomorphology) and Tourism related work looking at the social and environmental impacts of tourism. I am experienced in research design, research ethics, field work, data analysis, interpretation of results, and writing.
PUBLICATIONS
PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS BETWEEN LATE AUTUMN AND THE POST SPRING BLOOM IN A SUB-ARCTIC FJORD (WALKER ET AL., 2021)
SCIENTIFIC CURATOR AND COLLABORATION COORDINATOR BETWEEN NORWEGIAN RESEARCHERS AND NETFLIX PRODUCTION: OUR OCEANS
University of Bergen & Wild Space Productions
March 2021-September 2022
I worked on developing a pioneering collaboration between the University of Bergen (and an array of other Norwegian Research Institutes) and Wild Space Productions on the scientific narrative of the Arctic and Atlantic episodes of their new series, Our Oceans. I consulted on the episode narrative, exploring potential avenues to include relevant topics, and hosted numerous meetings between leading researchers in the field and the series produces.
I The series comes out on Netflix in late 2024 and is much awaited after the success of their last Blue Chip ocean series - Blue Planet 2.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Bergen, Norway
January 2021- August 2022
I collaborated on a number of diverse projects focused on Sustainability planning, fisheries management, and public outreach/ science communication. Alongside academic contributions I have also produced a number of graphics, as shown below.
DEVELOPING AND LOCALIZING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL (SDG) THINKING FOR COMMUNITIES
Learn more about the project and read my blog updates at the link below
sdg.w.uib.no
SDG BERGEN CONFERENCE, 2021
As part of this work I hosted a session at the SDG Bergen Conference that was attended by > 140 people! Listen to the session 'Less Talk, More Action' about localizing the SDGs below.
https://arct.tools/less-talk-more-action-the-sdg-conference-bergen/
SCIENCE OUTREACH & COMMUNICATION
Including but not limited to blogs, news articles, and this magazine video feature in ECO Magazine's special edition on the UN Decade of Ocean Science!
http://digital.ecomagazine.com/publication/frame.php?i=707374&p=226&pn=&ver=html5
MARINE & OTHER SCIENCES
Response of sea ice phytoplankton to varying light conditions
Sea Ice Ecology Course, Nuuk Greenland (2017)
Cause and Effects: Diploria sp. bleaching in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
Tropical Marine Ecology Course, Mount Allison University (2015)
Elevation and Climate Change: An Analysis of the Hilda Creek Rock Glacier Jasper, Canada, using Lichenometry and Dendrochronology
Advanced Field Research Methods Course, Mount Allison University (2013)
Laboratory Skills & Experience
⚪ArcGIS ⚪ RStudio ⚪ Excel ⚪ CTD Profiles ⚪ Sediment trap deployment and retrieval ⚪ Fish stomach content analysis ⚪ Fish population analysis (growth curves, fertility indices, population structure) ⚪ Chlorophyll a filtration and analysis ⚪ Total particulate matter flux analysis ⚪ Zooplankton sampling (WP2) and identification ⚪ Stable isotope sample preparation ⚪Transect sampling ⚪
TOURISM IMPACTS & MANAGEMENT
Assessment of Compliance to Responsible Whale Watching Regulations by Company and Vessel Type in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland
Marine Mammal Management Course, University of Iceland (2017)
Exploration of the Future of Canada’s Arctic Cruise Tourism in Response to the Crystal Serenity Precedent
Arctic Governance Course, University Centre of the Westfjords (2017)
Indulging the Global North: Neocolonialist Implications of Voluntourism.
Undergraduate Honours Thesis, Mount Allison University (2015)
Tourist Perception of Tourism as a Force of Coastal Marine Environmental Change in South East Asia.
Self-directed Study, Mount Allison University (2015)
PELAGIC BENTHIC COUPLING IN A NORTHERN NORWEGIAN FJORD OVER WINTER
Publication in Process
University Centre of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður, Iceland
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø
Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
Abstract - Global aquaculture is projected to double by 2050 to meet the demand of a growing human population. Norway has stated its interest in expanding its aquaculture sector to supply this growing international and domestic demand. The environmental impact of aquaculture by-products is determined by their concentration and distribution, which are affected by seasonal signals in pelagic-benthic coupling. Spring and summer studies of pelagic-benthic coupling in Norwegian fjords are significantly more abundant than those focusing on late autumn and winter. This study compared meteorology, hydrography, concentration of suspended and sinking biomass, and total particulate matter flux from October 2017 to February 2018 in Kaldfjorden, Norway (69.746ºN, 18.683ºE) to explore the physical and biological drivers of pelagic-benthic coupling. Stratification of the water column in Kaldfjorden weakened between October and December before disappearing completely in January and February, identifying winter as a time of high mixing. Changes to the physical environment coincided with a steep decline in suspended chlorophyll a concentration (Oct: 0.09-3.15 mg m-3, Dec-Feb: 0.03-0.12 mg m-3) and zooplankton abundance (Nov: 4502.83 ind. m-3, Jan-Feb: <101.72 ind. m-3). Sinking material was sampled using short-term sediment traps (24hrs). The downward biomass flux decreased throughout winter and particulate matter became more degraded, most likely due to zooplankton grazing. Sediment trap samples also showed evidence of resuspension following episodic winds throughout winter. The observed decrease in stratification and biological activity in this study is considered characteristic of a Northern Norwegian fjord, and supports the importance of including seasonally appropriate environmental baselines in the management of open circuit aquaculture to mitigate environmental impacts.
MASTER'S IN COASTAL AND MARINE MANAGEMENT
Courses Taken
⚪ Coastal and Marine Management Theory and Tools ⚪ Physical Processes of Coastal and Marine Environment ⚪ Coastal and Marine Ecology ⚪ Marine Protected Area Management ⚪ Iceland's Environment and Natural Resources ⚪ Oceanography ⚪ Arctic Ocean Governance ⚪ Sea Ice Ecology (Greenland) ⚪ Pollution and the Coastal Arctic ⚪ Fishing Technology ⚪ Environmental Impact Assessment ⚪ Research Methodologies ⚪ Marine Mammal Management ⚪ Coastal and Marine Management Practical Applications and Challenges ⚪ Resource Economics and Policy ⚪ Communicating Climate Change ⚪
B.A. (HONS) IN GEOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY
Degree Received with First Class Honours (GPA >3.7) and
Distinction (A grade on Honours Thesis)
Mount Allison University, Sackville, Canada
Third and Fourth Year Courses of Current Relevance:
⚪Global Coastal Change ⚪Environment and Development ⚪Ichthyology ⚪ Coastal Geomorphology ⚪ Biogeography ⚪ Resource Communities and Multinational Corporations ⚪Statistics ⚪ Ornithology ⚪ Tourism Education ⚪ Tropical Marine Biology ⚪ Geographic Information Systems ⚪ Rural and Small Town Canada ⚪ Education for Sustainable Development ⚪