They are Lisa Dowling, Victoria Carrington, Anna McKenzie-Pollock, Sian Moffat and Liam Dennis. The Sir Peter Blake Trust, in partnership with Antarctica New Zealand, the Antarctic Heritage Trust, NIWA and the Department of Conservation (DOC) announced a total of 11 awards this year, with five going to Victoria.
Lisa Dowling, a Master of Physical Geography student, will join NIWA scientists to conduct field work including measurements of climate and atmospheric variables at the key NIWA measurement sites of Lauder and Wellington at Baring Head.
“My research for my Master’s is about looking at long term climate change using geological evidence, so seeing how the climate is being monitored in real-time is very interesting to me. This is an opportunity for me to become better informed about how we measure the changes we see in the environment,” Lisa says.
Victoria Carrington, who is looking to start her Master of Science in Marine Biology next year, will join a month-long expedition from early January on board the RV Tangaroa to assist NIWA scientists as they survey species abundance on the Chatham Rise.
Anna McKenzie-Pollock, who has recently completed her Master of Conservation Biology will head to Port Waikato in January to assist the Department of Conservation Dotterel Ranger and local volunteers with Port Waikato Beach Care’s shorebird protection programme.
“I am so excited to be able to work alongside a DOC dotterel ranger to assist with this programme – it is such an honour to get to work with these endangered birds. I am hoping to increase my knowledge of conservation in New Zealand and be able to share that knowledge and passion with others,” she says.
Bachelor of Science student Sian Moffitt will travel to Nelson in late January to work with Department of Conservation rangers and partners on the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project (RNRP), one of the original six mainland islands set up in the mid-1990s to test pest control methods and establish best practice for DOC operations.
“I’m looking forward to gaining experience working in the field while acquiring knowledge of the Nelson Lakes area and its beautiful flora and fauna. I have a huge passion for conservation and believe that we are so lucky as New Zealanders to live in this unique country as it is teeming with weird and wonderful wildlife and I hope to play a part in keeping it that way.”
Commerce and Engineering student Liam Dennis will work on the development of an interactive online platform which will enable viewers to follow the work of the all the ambassadors.
“I learn best by doing, so the Ambassadorship is an opportunity to gain real-world skills while building something that is tangible, and hopefully meaningful too.”
Sally Paterson, Acting CEO of the Sir Peter Blake Trust says “these programmes offer talented young people unique opportunities to work alongside world-class subject experts.”
“By developing new applied skills in the field and building leadership qualities our Blake Ambassadors use these experiences to share and inspire others,” she says.