When did you first become interested in science?

 

I have always loved collecting bugs and other small animals and seeing what they do and how they behave but my real love started in year 3. My family travelled to Hervey Bay, QLD and we went whale watching. After seeing humpbacks breaching and spyhopping I was in awe and I knew from that moment that I was going to be a marine scientist and now here I am umpteen years later fulfilling that dream.

What path did you take to get to your career?

 

As I loved marine science since primary school going to university was an easy decision but I lived in Canberra and marine science wasn’t offered there so I travelled up to Armidale to study marine biology. I completed my first year of university there and heard about a new course at ANU called Global and Ocean Science so I quickly transferred back down to Canberra to do that. I wanted to be home as a born and bred Canberra girl. That degree was great and I was also lucky enough to get a cadetship with Geoscience Australia while I was studying. I had some fabulous opportunities while there to work on heaps of different projects. But I quickly learnt that research wasn’t for me because I like to talk way too much so instead of doing honours I applied for a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication and ran away with the Shell Questacon Science Circus. I have to say hands down the best year of my life so far, I got to travel all around Australia performing science shows for school students. That showed me that science communication was my new calling. After completing that year I started my working career at Questacon where I worked on exhibition design and school bookings. I then moved to Geoscience Australia and worked as an Education Officer there before going back to Questacon as a member of the Smart Moves teams where I got to travel and perform again. But I still loved marine science so I applied for a job at the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre in Eden. I was lucky enough to be accepted so I  packed up and moved to the beach, which is where I am now and I love my job.
 

What is an average day like in your job?

 

There is no average day in my job which is one of my favourite things. Today I spent a couple of hours down at the local rock pools with visiting families exploring the life that inhabits the intertidal zone. During the school term I work a lot in the office writing and designing education programs for schools and taking bookings. I also travel out to schools and run a variety of marine education activities with the students. Each day is so different.

What is the best thing that has happened in your job?

 

The best thing that has happened in my job would definitely be seeing new born octopus. They are so tiny and cute and it is not something that I ever thought that I would see. I also love sharing my passion for marine science with kids and seeing their faces light up when they get to hold a sea star or see an octopus open a jar for food.

 

What advice would you give to a young aspiring scientist?

 

The best advice is to do what you’re passionate about. Don’t ever go for a job for money or glory because that isn’t enough to make it fun. If you do what you’re passionate about then you will go far and be much happier. I also suggest finding volunteer opportunities in the field you’re interested in. Volunteer work looks great on a CV and may just be the thing that sets you apart.