Have you ever used a typewriter?
No
How is social media changing news?
Social media has changed how we access the news, the type of news we are exposed to, and the multiple world-views available to learn from. There is a bias in this - a bias that we can address and counter with critical thinking and by actively directing our attention towards meaningful conversations.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
As a person who loves to learn about the world around me, from travelling and living on remote islands to the simple everyday pleasures of reading a well-written article with my morning coffee and daydreaming about somewhere I would love to go - I have always sought out my own information in order to better understand and engage with the world around me. However, some days this is harder to do than others, it is getting harder and harder to find a balanced viewpoint, to feel inspired, to read and acquire a deep sense of learning and hope - to engage with voices of reason and clarity. As a marine scientist, looking to make a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation, this is a particularly difficult space to navigate. To tread the tightrope of fact, whilst providing realistic solutions to issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and all the interconnected aspects which contribute to the world in which we live. It is increasingly more difficult to engage fully with these issues, when people are already so overwhelmed by current events….I think the purpose of journalism is to aid society in navigating this process with integrity and grace, to build trust with an audience and to hold a level of accountability that is rare and focused on making the world better.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I am proud of my collaborations, of being a part of the Antarctic research community for the last decade, inextricably entwined with a generation of women in science that are passionately paving the way for those who come after us. I think my proudest moment is yet to come - but if I were to pick one now, it is to be where I am right now….at a place in life where I can reflect on a time when someone like myself could travel the world, get an education to the highest level and pursue my passions. There is never any guarantee that it will continue to be this way, but so long as I have the chance I am proud to say that I will make the most of it.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I am often away from my computer, maybe sailing and adventuring in remote locations in conjunction with conservation and research project commitments...enjoying everyday moments with friends, or in quiet calm spaces reading a book or watching the sunset.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love The Conversation and hope to write for them one day soon.
