I research palaeoclimatology or past climates – which looks at how Earth’s climate has changed over thousands of years. I focus on the sub-Antarctic region looking at how temperature and westerly wind patterns have changed since the last ice age. One of the tools I use to do this is diatoms. Diatoms are tiny, microscopic algae that build intricate glass shells. When the environment changes, diatoms are one of the first organisms to respond to that change, making them natural recorders of past climate and environmental change. By understanding past climates, we can better understand how today’s climate is changing and what the future holds.
Research keyword: Sub-Antarctic paleoclimates
About the BEAKER STREET ROVING SCIENTIST PROGRAM
Each August, hundreds of Roving Scientists descend upon Hobart, filling up pubs and chatting to strangers as part of Beaker Street Festival. Discover a new world down the lens of microscope, and joining the least-boring bar conversations you’ve ever heard and these free (the chats – not the drinks) events.
For Scientists, Beaker Street’s Roving Scientist Program offers an excellent outreach, professional development, and networking opportunity. It’s the nerdiest and funnest way to share your research with the public, expand your network, and be inspired by leaders in all sectors of science and science communication.
