Monthly Q&A: January 2022

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm off for a month to get some hands-on experience with some stuff I've been DYING to do more of. So excited!! Anyways, here are your questions and my answers for the first 2022 Q&A! 

PERSONAL​

Now that you are back in Australia, are you restarting your PhD?
I am! Super excited to dive back into Western Australian life!

Any movies you are looking forward to in 2022?
I haven't heard of many drops, but Marvel always drops some epic stuff.

What songs are you loving right now?
I'm ranging from Afunika, Andre Henry, Baker Boy, Jason Derulo, Maluma, etc.

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EDUCATION & WORK

What will this year look for you in regards to your PhD?
Lots of grant writing, fieldwork, and data analysis, and writing! I plan on going to a few different conferences to present, too.

How do you think your strong social media presence will impact your academia prospects?
To be honest, I’m not sure.
I hope that my social media experience will help whoever I work with (be it NGOs and government stakeholders or future students) and that my other professional skills won’t be dismissed because I have a few thousand followers on Twitter and Instagram. I want to use all my skills to engage with people and meet them where they are, allowing for conversations that haven’t been had before because me and my unique skills weren’t in that space before.
I don’t know if there are different expectations in the future or if my platforms will be perceived in the future… but I’ll worry about that when I get to that point.
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Do you have concerns that people will not take you seriously in academia?
I think a lot of those in academia are pushing back against this idea that "scholars" look and act a certain way. Some academics only write and research - some educate in other content formats (like pictures, TikTok videos, Reels). I think that I will be valuable in whatever space I end up in because of my ability to be both "versions" of a "serious scholar." (This is my proud way of saying I just dropped two academia articles to different journals this month)

Which strategies are you using to add value to your workplace?
I am dedicating this year to learning new skills that no one else at work has that will make me indispensable to the team. Also want to help my lab's social media presence. 

What is the best marine science wildlife internship?
Depends on what skills you want to get! Google will help.

•••

WILDLIFE Q’S

What animal have you worked with that you didn't think you would?
Cetaceans!

Has climate change impacted sharks?
Yes! See my latest article covering one way it has impacted sharks in Australia.

Is it true that 100 million sharks get killed every year?
That exact number is debated - to be honest, I haven't seen any academic journal that backs that specific number up? Regardless, 37% of the world's sharks and rays are considered in danger of extinction as of 2021.

•••

RELATIONSHIP

Not a question, just saw that you and C are engaged and want to say congratulations! 
Thank you so much. 

Wait, weren't you and C already engaged? What is defacto, then?
Not quite. We were in a domestic partnership outside marriage.

I know it was asked last month but have your "no wedding in 2022" plans changed?
Nope. Gonna enjoy the engagement and we'll let things happen as they do.

Are you planning a beach wedding?
Yes.

Will you have one shark related thing at your wedding?
No.

Where would you want to get married?
In Australia somewhere!

AS ALWAYS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SENDING IN YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS!  BE SURE TO KEEP UP WITH MY INSTAGRAM STORIES TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS IN FOR THE NEXT Q&A! ​