Maisy Fuller MSci Marine Biology, 2016

Science Officer, Coral Cay Conservation

Having wanted to study marine biology since a young age, I was thrilled to be accepted onto the masters of marine biology course with study abroad at the University of Southampton.

I gained an understanding of a broad range of fields within marine biology and learnt numerous research techniques, all thanks to the fantastic teaching staff and hi-tech equipment available to students

As a world leading research facility the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) is a fantastic environment for an undergraduate to learn and develop in. During my time there I gained an understanding of a broad range of fields within marine biology and learnt numerous research techniques, all thanks to the fantastic teaching staff and hi-tech equipment available to students. I was also fortunate enough to complete my third year at the University of Western Australia. Although living on the other side of the world was initially a daunting prospect, the experience allowed me to develop both the confidence and independence that I possess today.

It is thanks to the skills I gained at both the University of Southampton and the University of Western Australia that I have been able to work as an educator and researcher with numerous NGOs all over the world. To date I have worked with the Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity on their turtle nesting project and just completed a season with the Perhentian Turtle Project in Malaysia, where we were using photo ID to establish the nesting and foraging turtle populations around the island. Currently, I am working for Coral Cay Conservation who are working to establish Marine Protected Areas within the Philippines. My role here is to train all volunteers in coral reef survey techniques and to lead surveys in areas where Marine Protected Areas have been proposed.

Working in conservation isn’t easy, with short contracts and low pay, but I love working with different communities all over the world and helping to ensure ecosystems are adequately protected. Without the University of Southampton introducing me to such a wide range of fields within marine biology, it would have been unlikely that I would have discovered my passion for tropical conservation and education.