ROVING SCIENTIST DIRECTORY

Roving Scientists 2025

Abbie Smith

Abbie Smith

I am a Fisheries Acoustics scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division. I work with echosounder data from the Krill Observational…
Abha Sarang Gadgil

Abha Sarang Gadgil

My research focuses on the seagrass beds in southeast Tasmania that have been found to be an important habitat for…
Alfonsina Arriaga Jiménez

Alfonsina Arriaga Jiménez

Our research uses museomics (genomic techniques applied to museum specimens) to help us resolve the taxonomy of a genus of…
Anastasia Shavrova

Anastasia Shavrova

I am an evolutionary biologist at UNSW who studies how animals navigate the challenge of finding a mate. Some fight,…
Andrew McCulloch

Andrew McCulloch

Research keyword: Quantum physics
Angela Isaura Santos Costa

Angela Isaura Santos Costa

I am a Brazilian geologist and PhD candidate at CODES, University of Tasmania, researching the magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of tungsten skarn…
Angela Nicoli

Angela Nicoli

I recently joined the Glial Research Laboratory at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in Hobart, where we study Multiple…
Ann Kristin Lund Johansen

Ann Kristin Lund Johansen

I am a PhD Student, researching the Aurora Subglacial Basin icesheet – also known as the "Weak Underbelly of East…
Anna-Zoë Herr

Anna-Zoë Herr

I’m an anthropologist exploring how scientists navigate hope in the face of environmental collapse. My research follows polar researchers in…
Arshemah Qaisar

Arshemah Qaisar

I’m a PhD researcher investigating the genetic factors contributing to preeclampsia which is a serious pregnancy complication that affects mothers…
Bajrang Chidhambaranathan

Bajrang Chidhambaranathan

I am a Physical Oceanographer studying the wild waters around Antarctica. These cold, remote oceans play a big role in…
Barbara Labbe

Barbara Labbe

I am a PhD student from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), and my research seeks to elucidate…
Ben Arthur

Ben Arthur

I am a marine ecologist and science educator who has researched marine mammals and seabirds on several sub-Antarctic islands. I…
Benjamin Halliwell

Benjamin Halliwell

My research integrates genetic, morphological and physiological data with mathematical modelling to address fundamental questions in comparative biology. In particular,…
Branwell Roberts

Branwell Roberts

I am a PhD student who writes poetry about early twentieth century Antarctic history. I am also researching the uses…
Brianna Le Busque

Brianna Le Busque

I use psychological principles to explore why people fear sharks and how that fear shapes our relationship with the ocean.…
Caitlin Selfe

Caitlin Selfe

I research palaeoclimatology or past climates - which looks at how Earth’s climate has changed over thousands of years. I…
Cara Brown

Cara Brown

My research is focused on the pain condition Fibromyalgia, and therapeutic interventions available and emerging. I investigate the Australian population…
Carolyn Philpott

Carolyn Philpott

I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music and an Adjunct Senior Researcher at the…
Catherine Gatt

Catherine Gatt

I use single-cell genetic RNA sequencing to map the different cell types in organisms like termites and plankton. By building…
Chantal Mears

Chantal Mears

I am a biogeochemical oceanographer, meaning I am a jack of all trades, master of none. Despite the lack of…
Chen Zhao

Chen Zhao

I’m a glaciologist and ice sheet modeller at the University of Tasmania, supported by an ARC DECRA Fellowship. My work…
Cheryl Mah

Cheryl Mah

I am a dynamic advocate for inclusion in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine). I manage the UNSW STEMM…
Christopher McCarthy

Christopher McCarthy

Research keyword: Plant physiology
Ciara Willis

Ciara Willis

I am a biological oceanographer at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. I work to improve…
Claire Butler

Claire Butler

I am a marine ecologist who researches the impacts of climate change on temperate reef ecosystems and the resilience and…
Claire van Werven

Claire van Werven

I am part of the Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance section and the Science section at the Secretariat of the Commission…
Clare Hawkins

Clare Hawkins

I’m a conservation biologist. I collaborate with large numbers of potential, amateur and professional scientists to monitor a bunch of…
Daniel Hyde

Daniel Hyde

Research keyword: Antarctic maritime operations
Danielle Zimmermann

Danielle Zimmermann

As an Ecology and Biodiversity PhD candidate, I dig into the muddy, largely understudied layers of our coastal sediments to…
Darren Engwirda

Darren Engwirda

I am a geophysical fluid dynamicist and mathematics researcher specialising in the development and analysis of computational models of the…
David Craig

David Craig

Research keyword: Weather
David Schunck

David Schunck

I am a researcher in space geodesy. Using a global network of large radio telescopes, we observe signals from distant…
Dilini Sithari Manage

Dilini Sithari Manage

My research focuses on identifying the sources of GHG emissions along the dairy supply chain, examining current mitigation practices, and…
Eduardo Gorron Gomez

Eduardo Gorron Gomez

I'm part of the CarbonLock project, exploring how marine microalgae and thraustochytrids can help permanently lock away carbon. These tiny…
Edward Doddridge

Edward Doddridge

I am a prize-winning jam maker and senior research associate in physical oceanography at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic…
Elisa Davis

Elisa Davis

I study ancient marine sedimentary DNA (very old dirt from the bottom of the Ocean) to uncover how the Southern…
Elisha Deegan

Elisha Deegan

Do you know how to do CPR if someone has a cardiac arrest? Have you ever spent time with someone…
Elizabeth Leane

Elizabeth Leane

I am a Professor of Antarctic Studies in the School of Humanities at the University of Tasmania. I have a…
Emanuela Cosma

Emanuela Cosma

I'm a Bug Detective, investigating beetle communities to unlock their secrets in Tasmania's wet forests. Beetles help forests thrive by…
Emily Garratt

Emily Garratt

My research is in the field of neuroimmunometabolism and focuses on risk factors for dementia. In particular how obesity can…
Emily Grilly

Emily Grilly

I lead the global WWF Antarctic Program with the aim to achieve significant conservation outcomes for Antarctic wildlife. Research keyword:…
Emily Lester

Emily Lester

I am a marine ecologist who studies how human activities such as fishing and predator removal affect the balance of…
Erica Thygesen

Erica Thygesen

I study planets that orbit around stars other than the Sun. We have found nearly 6000 exoplanets in the Milky…
Estrella Sanz Rodriguez

Estrella Sanz Rodriguez

I am a Senior Research Fellow in Analytical Chemistry and Chief Investigator with the ARC Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical…
Fergus Smith

Fergus Smith

Cuttings (or clones) of the same plant will look different from each other if they're grown in different environments. I…
Gayathry Krishnamurthy

Gayathry Krishnamurthy

I am a genetic epidemiologist passionate about improving women’s heart health. My research focuses on understanding why women who develop…
Gemma Woldendorp

Gemma Woldendorp

Training Antarctic expeditions in survival and field travel, driving Hägglunds, leading "jollies", conducting Search and Rescue, crossing sea ice, travelling…
Geoffrey Holden

Geoffrey Holden

I've conducted research in air pollution and cancer. I have also been a museum curator and a science educator. Research…
Georgina Anderson

Georgina Anderson

I am a conservation ecologist with a particular interest in threatened fauna. I am undertaking a PhD at UTAS, investigating…
Grace Bell

Grace Bell

As a Fishing Engagement Coordinator at NRE Tas, my job is to help improve ocean literacy of Tasmanian marine fishers.…
Hanh Minh Vo

Hanh Minh Vo

I'm a plant scientist who specialised in stressing plants out in dehydrating conditions! Plants are living beings, they experience dehydration…
Hannah Dawson

Hannah Dawson

I am a physical oceanographer with a passion for polar environments. I work at the University of Tasmania where I…
Hanne Nielsen

Hanne Nielsen

I am a Senior Lecturer in Antarctic Law and Governance at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of…
Helena Baird

Helena Baird

I explore the biodiversity of the Antarctic region - what is there, and how it is evolving - both on…
Hollie Anne Louise Williams

Hollie Anne Louise Williams

I am a Master's student studying Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. My area of…
Inna Osmolovsky

Inna Osmolovsky

I love studying plants, with my research in recent years focusing on how plants respond to climate change. From the…
Isabelly de Lima

Isabelly de Lima

Hi, I'm Isabelly. I'm a geneticist researching paediatric cataract — a rare condition that can cause blindness in children. I've…
Jakob Weis

Jakob Weis

I study microscopic ocean plants (called phytoplankton) that live at the base of the Southern and Antarctic Oceans' food web.…
Jan Lieser

Jan Lieser

I’m a seasoned meteorologist and marine glaciologist with over 30 years of expertise in remote sensing and polar research. I…
Jane Younger

Jane Younger

I explore the frozen frontier where climate change, wildlife and emerging viruses intersect. As a lecturer at the University of…
Jeff Leis

Jeff Leis

I am a larval-fish biologist who studies the pelagic larval stage of marine fishes, sometimes from the deck of a…
Jessica Noble

Jessica Noble

I am passionate about diversity, space, and dementia advocacy. I use storytelling to educate and inspire empathy, especially in youth.…
Jo Whittaker

Jo Whittaker

I am a marine geoscientist at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. My research explores how…
Joe Thomas

Joe Thomas

My research is focussed on the field of plant-water relations, and more specifically, how plants regulate their water loss through…
Johanne Jahnsen Hus

Johanne Jahnsen Hus

I'm a physical oceanographer studying how the ocean mixes under Antarctic sea ice. I use instruments that measure small scale…
Josh Greenhill

Josh Greenhill

I am working on my honours project in evolutionary ecology, looking at the Tasmanian Mountain shrimp and some of the…
Katharina Hochmuth

Katharina Hochmuth

The ocean floor and the underlying sediments are the biggest library of our planet's history. On board of research vessels,…
Katia Macias Diaz

Katia Macias Diaz

I am an educator and youth leader from Punta Arenas, Chile, focused on strengthening connections between Antarctic gateway cities and…
Katie Cresswell

Katie Cresswell

I wrangle wild Tasmanian fisheries using data, models, and lots of maths. I help guide the urchin fishery to target…
Katie Marx

Katie Marx

Antarctica may be seen as the world's last true wilderness, but it's surrounded by human systems. As global citizens, the…
Katya Bandow

Katya Bandow

I am a huge plant nerd who is keen to chat about native plants, Tassie ecosystems, conservation, citizen science and…
Keith Martin-Smith

Keith Martin-Smith

I have had a varied research career studying small crustaceans on the Great Barrier Reef, freshwater fish in Borneo, seahorses…
Knut Heinatz

Knut Heinatz

I'm a marine biologist with a passion for understanding the tiny drifting animals that power our oceans—plankton. My work has…
Laura Herraiz Borreguero

Laura Herraiz Borreguero

My research aims to support society addressing and adapting to climate change. I do this by studying how the Southern…
Lily Bennett

Lily Bennett

Scientists know a lot about how ferns and seed plants move water from the soil through their leaves—but these aren't…
Lucinda Duxbury

Lucinda Duxbury

My job is to reconstruct past marine ecosystems from traces of DNA buried in sediments that accumulate over time on…
Madi McLatchie

Madi McLatchie

I am currently an environmental science PhD Candidate at the University of Queensland researching contaminants in East Antarctic Seabirds, including…
Mingxia Lai

Mingxia Lai

I commenced my PhD with HyTECH at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) in 2023. The objective of my project “Ice…
Miranda Nieboer

Miranda Nieboer

I am a researcher, creative practitioner, and curator whose work explores human habitation in extreme environments, particularly Antarctica. With over…
Nathan Cook

Nathan Cook

I am a lecturer and early career researcher at The University of Queensland. My teaching focus is on nutrition science…
Neve Kelly

Neve Kelly

I’m a PhD student investigating the genetics of invasive species, with a focus on European starlings. By analysing DNA from…
Nicholas Fountain-Jones

Nicholas Fountain-Jones

My work uses advanced computer methods and gene studies to track how diseases change and spread among people, wildlife and…
Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts

Landscapes reveal past environmental and climatic change, where and when natural hazards might occur, and how people impact Earth’s systems.…
Nicole Gill

Nicole Gill

I am a conservation dog handler, and have worked with dogs across Australia. I recently completed a Masters’ degree with…
Nicole Hill

Nicole Hill

I am an ecologist who develops models to map marine biodiversity, to understand where the hotspots are and how biodiversity…
Niles Nelson

Niles Nelson

I’m a doctor and scientist who helps diagnose blood cancers using DNA. Since 2022, I’ve led a team building Tasmania’s…
Paula Andrea Ruiz Ruiz

Paula Andrea Ruiz Ruiz

I research reef resilience across the East Coast of Australia. Research keyword: Marine ecology, reef resilience
Pauline Latour

Pauline Latour

I am a marine biogeochemist, and I study the parameters controlling phytoplankton (tiny algae living in the surface ocean) growth…
Petra Heil

Petra Heil

Ever wondered what's really happening at the ends of our Earth? I am on a mission to find out! I…
Pratichee Mondal

Pratichee Mondal

Research keyword: Geochemistry, critical metals
Priyanjana Pramanik

Priyanjana Pramanik

I am fascinated by mangrove forests and the human and more-than-human communities that they sustain. My PhD looks at the…
Rebecca Jordan

Rebecca Jordan

Plants, from miniature mosses to towering trees, are fundamental for healthy ecosystems that support our lives. But what happens when…
Rose Aawulenaa

Rose Aawulenaa

My PhD research is exploring how Indigenous women’s knowledge can shape sustainable water management in Tasmanian agriculture. My research highlights…
Ryan Urquhart

Ryan Urquhart

I study black holes and other extremely dense celestial objects that are formed during the violent deaths of massive stars.…
Sadhani Karunarathna

Sadhani Karunarathna

I have a background in medical imaging and neuroimaging. My research focuses on discovering novel motor biomarkers of dementia and…
Samantha Burke

Samantha Burke

I am a marine ecologist and science communicator from Sydney. I gained an interest in science communication through performing at…
Samuel Ellis Dale Verne

Samuel Ellis Dale Verne

Physics studies a massive range of phenomena, from the ethereal nature of light, to the quantum behaviour of atoms, to…
Saranya Viswanathan

Saranya Viswanathan

I’m a neuroscientist uncovering how brain cells, called neurons, send signals to communicate. These tiny messages control everything from how…
Scott Meyerink

Scott Meyerink

I am a marine biogeochemist and qualified science teacher who explores how trace metals and nutrients like iron and silicon…
Serif Sungur

Serif Sungur

I am a medical student collaborating with the Royal Hobart Hospital’s (RHH) Haematology Department to study lymphomas. Blood cancer diagnoses…
Sheree Armistead

Sheree Armistead

I’m a geologist exploring how Earth’s tectonic plates and ancient climates shaped the planet over billions of years. By piecing…
Sherrie-lee Evans

Sherrie-lee Evans

I am a qualified archaeologist, with 40 years’ experience in natural and cultural resource management including in the New South…
Shyla Kupis

Shyla Kupis

I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Physics at the University of Tasmania, studying the shallow structure of glaciers and ice…
Sophie Mepham

Sophie Mepham

I lead a global clinical trials team helping to find new treatments for cancer. We manage over 150 clinical trials…
Stephanie Chen

Stephanie Chen

I am a plant scientist who uses DNA to help conserve threatened plants and manage invasive weeds. My research combines…
Surbi Agarwal

Surbi Agarwal

I am a PhD student at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, studying how brain cells respond to damage in…
Suzie Waddingham

Suzie Waddingham

I am an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian and a senior lecturer in health improvement at the University of Tasmania School…
Tess Chapman

Tess Chapman

Ahoy there, as one of RSV Nuyina's data officers, we collate, curate, and publish Nuyina’s scientific datasets and facilitate associated…
Thomas Holmes

Thomas Holmes

Phytoplankton are tiny organisms in the ocean that play a huge role in regulating our climate. Phytoplankton absorb as much…
Vaibhavi Dwivedi

Vaibhavi Dwivedi

I'm a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania researching how plastic pollution is governed in the Southern Ocean and…
Veronica Martin-Gall

Veronica Martin-Gall

My research assesses the impact of tobacco retail availability and smoking behavior over 20 years in Tasmania. If more stores…
Victoria Roy

Victoria Roy

Hello! I’m Victoria, a Research Officer based in Hobart with a Master’s degree in Laboratory Medicine. My background is rooted…
Vijit V. Nautiyal

Vijit V. Nautiyal

In my research, I study how concepts of heat and work translate into the quantum regime. I explore this by…
Vimarsha Kodithuwakku

Vimarsha Kodithuwakku

My research focuses on early vascular aging in children, adolescents, and young adults. By analyzing global data, I have established…
Vini Drozdowski

Vini Drozdowski

I am a social historian currently completing my PhD research in Antarctic history and sociology. My project focuses on the…
Will Hobbs

Will Hobbs

I am a very salty ocean scientist who researches Antarctic sea ice: what's driving recent changes in ice cover, is…
Yamila Cajal

Yamila Cajal

I study the processes that formed our planet Earth and its mineral resources, using field observations and the chemistry of…
Yuhang Liu

Yuhang Liu

I am a physical oceanographer studying ice-ocean interactions in East Antarctica, with a deep love for all things icy. Research…
Zac Ashby

Zac Ashby

Research keyword: Circuit board manufacturing
Zane Farnum

Zane Farnum

I investigate how environmental exposures – particularly stress and bushfire smoke – affect brain health as we age, with a…
Zoe Witkowski

Zoe Witkowski

I am a marine biology graduate who spent the last year in Nepal. Far from the ocean, my focus shifted…

Roving Scientists 2024

AiMei Chang

AiMei Chang

I am AiMei Chang (章愛梅), a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UTAS from Taiwan. I have a broad interest in both…
Alex Burton

Alex Burton

I study how Tasmania is imagined as a place to escape to. I am particularly focused on lifestyle migration, climate…
Alex Jordan

Alex Jordan

Alex is an Independent Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour. He is interested in how…
Alex Woodworth

Alex Woodworth

Everyone has their own unique DNA sequence, encoded by a DNA molecule approximately 2 metres long. This sequence is like…
Alix de Jersey

Alix de Jersey

Alix de Jersey is a PhD candidate in the Tasmanian School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. Her research…
Alyssa Marshell

Alyssa Marshell

Alyssa is a Fisheries Scientist at IMAS/UTAS who investigates key commercial and recreational scalefish species biology and ecology to inform…
Amelie Meyer

Amelie Meyer

Amelie Meyer is a senior climate scientist and oceanographer at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. She has a real…
Angelique Ray

Angelique Ray

Antarctic soil is the driest and most nutrient-poor on Earth. Despite this, diverse and under-characterised bacteria survive there. I research…
Anita Butterley

Anita Butterley

I research Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), an emerging carbon dioxide removal method that harnesses natural weathering and acid neutralisation processes…
Anna MacDonald

Anna MacDonald

Dr Anna MacDonald is a wildlife geneticist. Anna’s research applies genetic methods to learn about the species present in Antarctic…
Antonia Parker

Antonia Parker

I'm a PhD candidate at UNSW studying palaeontology, looking at extinct possums from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Queensland.…
Anya Reading

Anya Reading

Anya deploys the most remote seismic detectors on Earth. She records the seismic symphony of cracking and melting ice, revealing…
Ashley Dyson

Ashley Dyson

Geotechnical engineering focusing on landslides and offshore foundations. Research keyword: Engineering
Barry Becker

Barry Becker

I have Batchelor of Science in Atmospheric Physics and a Post Grad Diploma in Meteorology. I have been interested in…
Bec Banham

Bec Banham

I am a sociologist exploring the experiences of people living with multiple sclerosis in accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme…
Bek Smith

Bek Smith

Bek is the science communicator for the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership, a non-for-profit organisation that provides an annual Report…
Ben Arthur

Ben Arthur

Ben is a marine ecologist and science educator. He has researched marine mammals and seabirds on several sub-Antarctic islands. Ben…
Bibek Khatiwada

Bibek Khatiwada

 I'm researching new genes that cause inherited cataracts in children. This rare condition affects about 2 out of every 10,000…
Brie Sherow

Brie Sherow

Brie is a marine scientist, equally passionate about field work and communicating results. She is the technical lead at Healthy…
Brooke Zanco

Brooke Zanco

Brooke is an EMBO Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at UCL. She is an evolutionary biologist with expertise in insect physiology,…
Clare Hawkins

Clare Hawkins

Tasmania is home to hundreds of threatened species, and hundreds more are potentially threatened. Are we succeeding in protecting these…
Corrine Condie

Corrine Condie

What to people in Tasmania think about offshore wind farming? and How do they feel about the proposed offshore wind…
Craig Neill

Craig Neill

Roughly 30% of the CO2 that humans emit into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean.  Accurate measurements of the…
Dale Maschette

Dale Maschette

Dale is a fisheries scientist working primarily on Antarctic fisheries. The specialize in fish biology and stock assessments for a…
David Craig

David Craig

No forecast is accurate, the only question is how inaccurate. Nevertheless, weather forecasts are the basis of many safety decisions…
Deb Holmes

Deb Holmes

I am a meteorologist with a passion for Antarctic weather, gained after completing multiple seasons on the ice. I love…
Delphi Ward

Delphi Ward

Dr Delphi Ward works within CSIRO’s Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform, where she works on developing tools and processes for…
Dr Kirsten Banks

Dr Kirsten Banks

Kirsten Banks is not your average astrophysicist. With a passion for unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos and a talent…
Dr Megan Saunders

Dr Megan Saunders

Dr Megan Saunders is an interdisciplinary marine scientist who specializes in marine and coastal ecosystem restoration. She works at CSIRO…
Ed Doddridge

Ed Doddridge

Ed Doddridge is a prize-winning jam maker and Research Associate in Physical Oceanography at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic…
Elise Cleary

Elise Cleary

Hi! My name is Elise and I'm a PhD student at UTAS studying Behavioural Neuroscience. My research looks at how…
Ella Smalley

Ella Smalley

My research focusses on how we can best model genetic lung disease in a laboratory. I use stem cells and…
Elle Leane

Elle Leane

Elle holds degrees in physics and literary studies, and her research career began in science communication. More recently, she has…
Ellie Paine

Ellie Paine

Dr Ellie Paine is a Phycologist and Marine Biologist currently working as a Business Development and Scientific Officer at Marinova…
Eloise Bennett

Eloise Bennett

My research field is seaweed physiology or more simply, how seaweeds function and respond to their environment. To be specific,…
Emily Garratt

Emily Garratt

Emily's research is in the field of neuroimmunometabolism and focusses on risk factors for dementia. In particular how obesity can…
Freddie Heather

Freddie Heather

Freddie is a marine ecologist. His research focuses on quantifying human impacts on marine ecosystems, and identifying historical baselines. Research…
Gayathry Krishnamurthy

Gayathry Krishnamurthy

I am Gayathry Krishnamurthy, researching the shared genetic risk associated with the progression of preeclampsia to heart disease later in…
Gemma Woodward

Gemma Woodward

Phytoplankton at the ocean surface take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and when they die the carbon in their…
George Anderson

George Anderson

I am a conservation ecologist with an interest in threatened fauna. I am undertaking a PhD at UTas, investigating the…
George Rowland

George Rowland

I use chemistry to understand processes in the ocean at the modern day and 1000s of years into the past.…
Georgia Badgery

Georgia Badgery

I am studying echidna ecology in an agriculturally fragmented landscape. I trained my dog to help me find these elusive…
Georgia Mergard

Georgia Mergard

I currently work for the Macquarie Island Conservation Foundation as the Systems Implementation Manager. The foundation aims to fund and…
Hannah Moloney

Hannah Moloney

Hannah works in the intersection between organic gardening, landscape design, climate action, communication and book writing - all towards helping…
Inna Osmolovsky

Inna Osmolovsky

I try to understand why plants are trying to escape climate change by moving to warmer, seemingly unsuitable, climates. I…
Isaac Forster

Isaac Forster

Isaac has over 20 years professional experience in coordinating marine scientific research, fisheries management, and local and international policy forums.…
Jacob Thorstensen

Jacob Thorstensen

I am a neuroscientist, and my work involves the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to study and modulate the human…
Jake Gruythuysen

Jake Gruythuysen

Jacob is a field scientist involved in estuarine monitoring across Queensland. Seagrass, water quality, mangrove leaves, plankton tows, crustaceans, and…
Jared Magyar

Jared Magyar

My research focusses on monitoring glaciers based on vibrations, or ‘seismic waves’, in the ice. As water flows through a…
Joel Williams

Joel Williams

I am interested in understanding the distribution of fish in relation to their habitat and how this is being influenced…
Johanne Hus

Johanne Hus

I'm a Ph.D. student researching ocean turbulent mixing beneath Antarctic sea ice. Turbulent mixing, characterized by chaotic water movement, plays…
Julie McInnes

Julie McInnes

Julie McInnes is a wildlife ecologist who works predominantly on Southern Ocean seabirds and mammals, with a focus on applied…
Kalina Makowiecki

Kalina Makowiecki

My research looks at how nerve cells and other brain cells work together to control brain activity, learning, and behavior.…
Karen Wild-Allen

Karen Wild-Allen

Karen researches marine plankton, nutrient and oxygen cycling using numerical (computer) models and observations. Her recent research has focussed on…
Kate Hutson

Kate Hutson

 When I was a little girl my mother, a science teacher, showed me a head louse under a microscope! I…
Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is an Australian Astronaut and Space Systems Engineer. She is the first person qualified as an astronaut under…
Kathryn Wheatley

Kathryn Wheatley

Kathryn is an Associate Principal Scientist at BMT. Her background is marine mammal ecology and now specialises in sampling design,…
Katie Marx

Katie Marx

With the southern polar region facing a host of environmental and political challenges, one thing is certain - Antarctica needs…
Katy Baker

Katy Baker

Did you know aliens live among us? Tiny creatures with gooey bodies, see-through heads, and glowing skin might sound like…
Katya Bandow

Katya Bandow

Katya is a PhD student working with Prof. Greg Jordan and Prof. Tim Brodribb at the University of Tasmania and…
Kristian Mikhel

Kristian Mikhel

I am exploring the ways to communicate the risks of pollution and the importance of clear air initiatives to the…
Kritika Sharma

Kritika Sharma

My current PhD research project focuses on radiata pine, a globally important species for softwood plantations, with the scope to…
Krystyna Saunders

Krystyna Saunders

My research involves studying lake sediment and peat cores from sub-Antarctic islands, as well as elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere.…
Lachlan Hart

Lachlan Hart

I am a vertebrate palaeontologist, which means I study the skeletons of extinct animals. I have worked on many groups,…
Lily Bennett

Lily Bennett

The first land plants were short and had to grow near water because they couldn't control water flow in and…
Lisa Gershwin

Lisa Gershwin

You may know of Dr Lisa Gershwin as the jellyfish lady. She’s discovered more than 200 new species of jellyfish…
Madi Rosevear

Madi Rosevear

Madi studies how the ocean melts Antarctic Ice Shelves from below. I study this using high-resolution ocean models, and by…
Madison Farrant

Madison Farrant

I am an Antarctic Biologist and PhD candidate, and I love all things Antarctica! Currently I am researching at Monash…
Mari Kondo

Mari Kondo

Mari transitioned from being a neuroscientist working on gene-environment interactions in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders to managing the EMCR (Early-…
Maya Jakes

Maya Jakes

Physical oceanographer studying the ocean currents and whirling eddies that control the transport of heat towards Antarctica, influencing global climate…
Mei Du

Mei Du

As a bioinformatician, I draw from computer science and statistics to investigate large biological datasets, particularly genomic, and develop analysis…
Michelle Hollister

Michelle Hollister

I've moved from the world of Antarctic weather to station operations - where everything is still dependent on the weather!…
Naomi Monk

Naomi Monk

Naomi Monk is a PhD student at Monash University with a background in alpine conservation and an interest in the…
Natalie King

Natalie King

I am researching how problems with blood vessels contribute to diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. If you're…
Nick Fountain-Jones

Nick Fountain-Jones

My research focuses on using DNA to help untangle disease ecology in wildlife, humans and livestock. In particular, I utilize…
Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts

Tasmania was the only part of Australia to have abundant glaciers during the Pleistocene Epoch, Earth’s most recent ice-age interval.…
Noemie Sheppard

Noemie Sheppard

I am a PhD student at Monash University passionate about understanding the impacts of climate change on conservation. Currently, I’m…
Paula Ruiz Ruiz

Paula Ruiz Ruiz

My PhD in Biological Sciences focuses on researching the mechanisms that promote the stability and instability of turf community states,…
Philip Boyd

Philip Boyd

I use robots deployed from ships in the Southern Ocean on multi-year missions to follow the annual cycles of plankton…
Rebecca Jordan

Rebecca Jordan

Plants, from miniature mosses to towering trees, are fundamental for healthy ecosystems that support our lives. But what happens when…
Robyn Sewell

Robyn Sewell

I'm a previous UTAS honours student looking at the symbiotic relationship between plant hormones, orchid seeds and orchid mycorrhizal fungi.…
Roisin Moloney

Roisin Moloney

Roisin is studying the effects of rare genetic mutations on multiple sclerosis pathology. She is particularly interested in how these…
Sadhani Karunarathna

Sadhani Karunarathna

I have a background in medical imaging and neuroimaging. My research focuses on discovering novel motor biomarkers of dementia and…
Sam Beale

Sam Beale

My research is focused on using functional traits to develop a better understanding of how vascular plants on the sub-Antarctic…
Sammy Burke

Sammy Burke

Samantha (Sammy) Burke got her PhD from UNSW Sydney with her thesis on coral diseases. Sammy holds a BSc in…
Samuel Verne

Samuel Verne

Physics studies a massive range of phenomena, from the ethereal nature of light waves, to the quantum behaviour of atoms,…
Scott Condie

Scott Condie

Coral reefs throughout the world are under increasing pressure from climate change, with coral bleaching becoming more frequent. Our research…
Sherrie Evans

Sherrie Evans

Sherrie-Lee Evans is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania who has been using archival research and oral history…
Stephanie Hutt

Stephanie Hutt

I’m exploring alternate drivers of dementia, focusing on whether our brain's immune cells, called microglia, are part of the problem.…
Susi Seibt

Susi Seibt

Imagine a world without animal testing, where new medications are developed without harming animals. While we might never be able…
Tegan Clark

Tegan Clark

Tegan Clark researches Australian dust storms using satellites. Her research seeks to improve how Australian dust storms are detected so…
Thomas Verne

Thomas Verne

My research is both the text book example of poor plant care, and the hunger games for plants. I study…
Ting Zhao

Ting Zhao

 A health economist in chronic disease areas, including multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, analysing the economic burden of the disease, examining…
Tom Guinan

Tom Guinan

My research focuses on computational analysis of big datasets generated by cutting edge molecular biology techniques to investigate glaucoma and…
Vaibhavi Dwivedi

Vaibhavi Dwivedi

Vaibhavi is an interdisciplinary social scientist with background in law and environmental management. She has previously worked in conservation projects…
Vicki Heinrich

Vicki Heinrich

Vicki’s psychological sciences PhD examines human behaviour, weather-related decision-making and safety. That is how people find, interpret, use and respond…
Victoria Roy

Victoria Roy

Hello! I'm Victoria, a dedicated Master's student in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tasmania. My academic journey centers on…
Vimarsha Kodithuwakku

Vimarsha Kodithuwakku

My research focuses on early vascular aging in children, adolescents, and young adults. By analysing data from around the world,…
Vini Drozdowski

Vini Drozdowski

My research is about everyday, domestic life in Antarctica during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration (1893-1922). By focusing on…
Virginia Andrews-Goff

Virginia Andrews-Goff

I am a marine mammal research scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division. I’ve specialised in the movement of whales –…
Yuhang Liu

Yuhang Liu

I’m a Physical Oceanographer and a PhD student in Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) in Hobart. I study the ocean…
Zac Ashby

Zac Ashby

Hi there! My name is Zac and I work at a printed circuit board manufacturer just outside of Canberra. I…
Zane Farnum

Zane Farnum

I am investigating how life stress affects brain health as we age, particularly concerning neurodegenerative conditions like dementia. My study…

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.