Cheers to 6 years of studying the marine world 🌊🪸🪼
And 2 years since I moved to Australia 🇦🇺 (Feb. 6th, 2022)
It has been a long and fulfilling journey so far and within that time I have gained my BSc. in Marine Biology & Oceanography @nwmostate and my MSc. in Marine Biology @jamescookuniversity
And even though I’ve dedicated the last 6 years of my life to studying and protecting the oceans, I am still just a girl from Iowa 🪸🩵
So if you ever feel like you’re unqualified to do something or you’re not as experienced in your field as everybody else, or you don’t think you could possibly get accepted into a university in Australia—never hesitate to apply anyways or send out those emails for opportunities or put yourself completely out there to get ahead..
You never know where it might take you 🌍
#marinebiologist #iowa #australia #greatbarrierreef #maldives #womeninstem #research #science #japan #underwater #photography #turtles #corals #coralreef
A small part of something bigger 🌊🪸
Coming from a small farming community in Iowa, I never imagined I’d be leading work that helps protect a place as iconic as the Whitsundays.
It’s a privilege to be part of something that truly matters: protecting marine ecosystems, contributing to wildlife conservation, supporting local communities, and helping ensure this incredible environment can be experienced and valued for generations to come.
#marinebiologist #conservation #womeninscience #whitsundays
Double Release 🐢🌊🪸
Taylor and Swifty are now back in the big blue after a few months in care at EcoBarge.
Since November, it has been such a valuable experience returning to work in a marine turtle rehabilitation centre where I have been able to expand my knowledge in turtle health and clinical care.
While working in this field is not always easy, and often involves witnessing the impacts of anthropogenic pressures and environmental change on marine turtles, being part of two successful releases brings a renewed sense of hope and reinforces the importance of conservation and rehabilitation efforts. 🌊🐢
You can help support EcoBarge and their mission of protecting and conserving marine turtle populations in the Whitsunday region by following along on their journey 🩵
📸: Photo 1- EcoBarge
#marineturtles #conservation #australia #marinebiology #oceans
Turning marine debris into funding for wildlife conservation ♻️🌊🪸
This all started at Lizard Island in 2022.
Before each day of coral monitoring, I spent two weeks doing small morning cleanups along the shoreline, collecting bits of microplastic, bottle caps, and fishing gear before the work began.
On my first morning clean I was shown where to bin everything I had picked up, but it didn’t feel right to let that effort end there, or to give that plastic another chance to return to the ocean.
That’s where SeaChange began, an idea to turn what’s removed from the shoreline into something that actively advocates for a cleaner sea, keeps waste out of the environment, and supports the wildlife impacted by marine debris.
Since then, I have cleaned beaches in Cairns, Townsville, Ayr, Airlie Beach, Mackay, Gladstone, and Bundaberg, but the intention has stayed the same: stop the plastic cycle, and turn cleanup into further action.
#seachange #beachcleanup #oceanplastic #wildlifevonservation #cleantheseas
This shark can survive without oxygen… 🦈
Epaulette sharks are a product of life on the reef flat.
At low tide, these habitats can become warm, isolated, and severely depleted of oxygen. Instead of avoiding these conditions, epaulettes evolved to tolerate them.
They use their paired fins to “walk” across the substrate, moving between tidal pools as water recedes.
Physiologically, they can survive extended periods of hypoxia by reducing metabolic demand and protecting brain function even when oxygen is scarce.
This is why scientists are studying them closely, understanding how they tolerate low oxygen may offer insight into how wildlife respond to extreme environments.
#sharks #wildlife #conservation #science
Imagine a world before brains🪼
No thoughts. No dreams. No consciousness.
Jellyfish have existed for over 500 million years, drifting through ancient oceans long before complex nervous systems and brains evolved during the Cambrian Explosion.
Despite having no brain or central nervous system, they use a simple nerve net to coordinate behavior across their bodies.
Sleep-like states have been observed in cnidarians such as Cassiopea jellyfish, an early-diverging animal lineage, suggesting that sleep does not require a brain and may have deep evolutionary origins in animal life.
In these studies, they show reduced activity, slower responses, and decreased performance following sleep disruption.
Sleep is one of the most deeply conserved biological states observed across animal life, present even in organisms as simple and ancient as jellyfish.
#marinebiologist #ocean #wildlife #research #science
I’m a first-generation marine biologist 🌊
I didn’t grow up near the coast or inherit stories of the sea. I was raised in a farming community—far from the stories of coral reefs, the hidden worlds of seagrass meadows and kelp forests, and the ancient giants that wander the blue.
Yet somehow, I found my way to the largest living coral reef system on Earth. 🪸
With a degree from a landlocked university and a curiosity fueled by books, documentaries, and determination, I carved a path into a world I had never seen in person—but always felt called to.
There’s no single way to belong in marine biology. You don’t have to be born into it or have initial connections to get started. You can build your own journey, your own way forward. I think making it from scratch is what makes it even more powerful.
For anyone who feels like they come from “the wrong place” to chase something big—this is your reminder:
You are not behind. You are not out of place.
You are just getting started 🦋
#womeninscience #marinebiology #ocean #wildlifephotography #conservation
Marine Biologist in the Whitsundays 🌊🪸
This shift in the last half year has been nothing short of remarkable 🦋
More experience. More impact. More purpose.
Here’s to more collaborations, more initiatives, and more opportunities with incredible organizations, scientists, and community members.
#marinebiologist #oceans #whitsundays #science #wildlife
Corals of the Whitsundays 🪸🌊
Captured along the reefs of the Whitsundays, these snapshots from Blue Pearl Bay and Stonehaven Bay were taken during a recent water quality trip 🧬🌊🔭
Each image is more than just a moment; it’s a record of coral diversity, structure, and resilience. From branching forms to massive colonies, these photos help piece together the story of reef health in a changing ocean.
Blue Pearl Bay is often dominated by boulder and branching corals like Porites and Acropora, with fish assemblages that can offer subtle clues about overall reef health.
Stonehaven Bay, on the other hand, tends to have more patchy reef and macroalgae in places, but also reveals unique plating forms and stress-tolerant species that tell their own story of adaptation.
Grateful for days spent drifting over reefs, documenting the small details that make up these vast ecosystems, and turning them into tools for understanding and protection 🩵
#corals #whitsundays #science #marinebiology #underwaterphoto
SEA HER updates 🌊🪸
We have shipped out 40 copies of our debut issue so far!!
Thank you so much to everyone who has participated, supported, purchased, and shared our storytelling initiative!
We have shipped within Australia and also to New Zealand, USA, Canada, and Germany! 🗺️
Also, our second issue of SEA HER is looking incredibly empowering from the submissions so far! Our team is looking forward to working with everyone and seeing more people join our mission!
We have also garnered an amazing amount of interests for our volunteer editors and looking forward to reading all the applications 📑
Closing date for both the submissions and volunteer positions are March 31st. You can find the form for the volunteer application in the link in our bio and the submission guidelines for SEA HER pinned to our page.
For more details over submissions please contact us at [email protected]
#womeninscience #seaherstory #magazine #storytelling #oceans
Co-existing with the ocean is fundamental to human existence, when it’s done right. 🌊🪸
I created this short story in January, showcasing moments from my time working in the marine world.
Every clip in this video comes from my own journey. I’ve experienced some of the most incredible things the ocean can offer, but I’ve also witnessed some of the most heartbreaking realities of conservation.
This video is a raw reflection of what co-existence looks like today. It isn’t always harmonious or beneficial—sometimes it reveals the destructive impacts humans leave behind.
But acknowledging both the beauty and the damage is part of understanding our role in the ocean’s future.
What does coexisting with the ocean mean to you?
@seachange.eco@oceanculturelife@her.elementcollective
#marinebiology #womeninstem #science #greatbarrierreef #documentary
Mon Repos Turtle Research & Conservation 🐢🌊
Witnessing and getting to work with three different species of hatchlings and working with nesting loggerheads for the first time was an incredible experience.
It was a privilege to observe a generational legacy continuing, with new individuals emerging from the sands to begin their journey to the sea 🐢🌊
*all fieldwork was done under permits and ethics to ensure safe handling and procedures with marine wildlife
#marineturtles #conservation #research
