Learning Potential Fund puts wind in sails for marine geoscientist
When Mardi McNeil started her undergraduate science degree at QUT a decade ago, she had no idea where her university journey would lead her.
Now a PhD student, marine geoscientist and Learning Potential Fund recipient, Mardi shares her latest adventures onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor, where she completed her third consecutive voyage expedition late last year.
'I first sailed on RV Falkor in 2017, which was my first experience researching at sea. I took to the sea like a duck to water – pardon the pun – and have been seeking out opportunities to conduct science on research vessels ever since,’ explained Mardi.
‘The latest voyage is the first time I have stepped into the role of Chief Scientist on a research expedition. I was responsible for planning the voyage logistics, personnel, and scientific objectives along with a team of colleagues and collaborators.
‘I was also accompanied by a small team of students who got to experience being on a research vessel for the first time. I hoped to create a positive experience for the students, and encourage their curiosity and enthusiasm for marine research, similar to how the QUT community has supported me as a Learning Potential Fund recipient.’
The Ice Age Geology of the Great Barrier Reef expedition brings together a team of marine geologists, oceanographers, and seafloor mapping specialists. Together, they explore and uncover the past shorelines, rivers, deltas, and reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef formed during the Last Glacial Maximum, when the sea level was up to 120 meters lower than today.
The rapid environmental change that occurred during the end of the last Ice Age can help scientists better predict and understand how these environments may respond to present and future climate change, sea-level rise, and changes to ocean circulation patterns.
In addition, all multibeam sonar data is uploaded to the AusSeabed Marine Data portal and contributes to the global effort to map the world’s oceans by 2030.
When asked how being a Learning Potential Fund recipient has helped Mardi during her research, she shared how the support of her scholarship's donor, Dr Laurie Cowled, has encouraged Mardi throughout her university life.
'I value the personal interest that Dr Laurie Cowled has shown in me and my studies. She is an inspiration, and I am truly humbled by her energy, generosity, and the joy she finds in giving. I hope one day I am able to pay forward in some small way the support that I have experienced at QUT.’
If you would like to support QUT’s reef research, please visit our website to donate.