Human Impacts Research
Interview with Sarah Richards1
In
what area of Antarctic science are you involved?
I work with the Human Impacts
Research Program, AAD, investigating nearshore marine benthic ecology and the
effects contaminated sites are having on the marine communities at Casey
Station.
What was the career path that led you to this position and was it a conscious choice from an early age?
I was interested in Antarctic Science from a very young age, I think I first wrote to the AAD to find out what jobs they had available when I was 13. I studied for my BSc at the University of New England and majored in Zoology and Ecosystem Management. I had the good fortune to do my undergraduate studies with people like Dr Steve Smith and Professor Rod Simpson, who were directly involved in Antarctic and Subantarctic research.
Throughout my degree I became increasingly interested in marine ecology. After
graduating from my BSc I began an Honours project jointly supervised by
Zoology at UNE and the Human Impacts Research Program. In this study I
investigated the invertebrate community associated with the common Antarctic
sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri, and its potential for use in environmental
monitoring at Casey Station, Antarctica. After completing my Honours I went on
to do my PhD. My PhD project developed from the work I had done for my
Honours, this time using pot scourers as a standard recruitment unit to sample
the benthic invertebrate communities around Casey.
How easy is it to balance your personal life with Antarctic field work?
Having a field site in the
Antarctic presents some obvious challenges. I have travelled to Casey three
times, for two summer seasons of several months and one extended stay of 18
months. Modern communication, transport and the accommodation facilities on
the stations make living and working in Antarctica easy – but you are still
very isolated and without the option of returning home until the end of the
season. This can be difficult, especially for the people you leave behind.
Essentially you choose to live in Antarctica for the time you are there and it
demands your attention – in terms of living and working in a wild place and in
being a vital part of a small community. Hopefully ‘e-love’ is enough for your
friends and family ‘til you get back.
What do you enjoy most about your Antarctic-related work?
Having the opportunity to spend
time in the Antarctic environment. To see penguins, seals, whales, the ice and
lots of sky.
What are some examples of your Antarctic-related experiences?
My field work involved deploying
and retrieving my sampling units from the shallow marine waters around Casey.
We used 16ft Zodiacs to access the field sites and had to snorkel to collect
the units at the end of the deployment period. To snorkel we wore 7mm neoprene
drysuits with a ‘bear’ suit underneath. The drysuits keep you warm in the
water but your face is still exposed to the minus 1.8°C water. Brrrr! While
snorkelling I was lucky enough to see penguins swimming and to see some of the
larger benthic marine fauna like starfish, nemerteans and anemones that were
pulled up on the trays.
What is your advice to women wanting to become involved in your area of work?
The Antarctic is becoming more accessible with new methods of transport and better facilities available on the stations. There is always a need for good science and new ideas. Study hard and don’t be shy!
Sarah Richards, 29, is a PhD student affiliated with the Human Impacts Research Program, AAD and the National Marine Science Centre.