FAO recently published a widely reported study about the ‘invisible’ presence of women in the fisheries sector, and the surprising dearth of women in management positions within the seafood industry. The study, The Role of Women in the Seafood Industry, has sparked interesting discussion and even a series of weekly articles in one seafood journal focusing on how to attract more qualified women to management positions in international seafood companies.
Since we’re lucky enough to have many young and talented women scientists aboard this voyage of the Nansen across the Indian Ocean, we decided to take advantage of their presence and ask these young scientists how they became involved in marine research, what the outlook is for women in the sector, and what advice they would offer young girls interested in pursuing scientific careers in marine research … one that may even take them aboard the Nansen one day.
Today we’ll introduce you to Melody Puckridge from Australia. Melody earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Marine and Antarctic studies from Southern Cross University. She earned her PhD from the University of Tasmania, in Fish Phylogenetics and Phylogeography.
Melody is currently doing her post-doctoral work at the University Queensland, her research concentrating on marine plastics and sea turtles.
Melody’s interest in marine environments began early. She grew up near the coast and developed an early love for the oceans by spending a lot of time in the water. She wasn’t specifically encouraged by her parents or early teachers to pursue a career in science, but eventually chose to study applied science because of a general curiosity about nature and her love of discovering new things. She was especially fascinated to learn about the mysteries of the marine world so different from the visible world around us.
Years later, from the decks of the Nansen, Melody reflects on her early decision, “A career in marine science has allowed me to enjoy so many incredible experiences, spanning from the tropics to polar regions. My work and research continues to challenge me, and to change the way I see the world.”
She has been lucky enough to have had the support of some key mentors – both male and female – who have been incredibly encouraging. In particular, Patti Virtue supervised both her honours and PhD projects, and was instrumental in Melody’s decision to continue in academia. And Nikos Andreakis, her PhD supervisor, has been one of the most formative mentors in her entire career.
According to Melody, “While women are not sufficiently represented across the sciences, my current research team has a higher proportion of women than men, which may be a reflection of the continuing shift of women's role in science.”
And would she encourage young girls with a passion for marine science to pursue her dreams? “Absolutely. I would encourage any young woman curious about the world around her to pursue a career in science.”
Thank you, Melody! We hope to bring you more perspectives of women scientists from aboard the Nansen as the ship continues on its journey.
15/07/2015