SAMS news room

A SAMS undergraduate student has been praised for presenting her research in front of an international gathering of seasoned scientists at her first ever academic conference.

Nele Thomsen is a fourth year student on the BSc Marine Science Degree at SAMS, a partner of UHI, and attended the International Zooplankton Production Symposium in Hobart, Tasmania, organised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES).

After securing her place among the attendees with a poster presentation, the 24 year old was shocked to instead be asked to present her research on zooplankton at the conference, which attracted more than 300 scientists from 38 countries.

“I was so nervous on that first day, as I’d never been to a science conference before,” said Nele. “But with time I felt more confident and I’ve met a lot of nice people who are as fascinated by zooplankton as I am! It’s been a great opportunity.

“I’ve made connections with people from Hong Kong, the US and Australia and it was amazing to experience Hobart, which is just heaven for marine scientists.

“I felt like I’ve grown up a bit in my career. I’ve found a research community of like-minded people, which has given me lots of new ideas and has further strengthened my determination to continue doing research.”

For her final year dissertation Nele has been investigating how two different groups of copepods – Acartia and Calanus – are impacted by copper and ocean warming, as well as how these factors impact their DNA.

Attendance at the conference was the culmination of a summer 2023 internship and a dissertation funded by the Genetics Society and UK Environmental Mutagen Society (UKEMS), which included fieldwork and experimental work in collaboration with Dr Claudia Halsband from the Tromsø-based research institute Akvaplan-niva.

Nele was joined in Hobart by her SAMS supervisor Dr Helena Reinardy, who also presented at the conference. Student and supervisor met up with SAMS alumna Ilaria Stollberg at the University of Tasmania and, through a contact made at the conference, Nele was able to visit the Australian Antarctic Division laboratory in Kingston.

Dr Reinardy said: “Nele was amazing and rose to the challenge, despite being nervous at what was her first ever conference.

“She was so professional that no-one could tell she was an undergraduate student. She has worked hard on her research and has excelled as a student, so deserves this opportunity.”

Asked about a highlight from her fortnight in Tasmania, Nele recalled a moment at the conference dinner. “I saw quite a few of my ‘research heroes’ dancing to Columbian music! Suddenly, I had a picture and memories that showed a different and fun side to these established academic names.”