SUMMARY OF PHD OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The working title of my Ph.D. was Visual function and adaptation in mesopelagic decapods. This stemmed from previous work at Leicester with Peter Shelton and Ted Gaten and at IOS with Peter Herring that had demonstrated inter- and intra-specific progressive changes in the structure of the decapod eye with habitat depth. My original aims were:
1) Conduct a histological survey of a large range of deepwater species
2) Investigate spectral and temporal responses of a few species electrophysiologically
3) Develop a portable electrophysiology apparatus which could be used at sea

I was able to achieve satisfactorily the original aims and go on to develop a computer model that will predict the spatial and absolute sensitivity of any reflecting superposition compound eye. In addition I took advantage of the BRAVEX initiative to investigate the optical abilities of the hydrothermal vent shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata. The Ph.D. project required a broad range of skills and allowed me to gain a degree of competence in histology, microscopy, electrophysiology, BASIC programming, image analysis, optical physics and statistics. A total of six months were spent at sea on the RS Discovery, RS Challenger and Akademic Mstislev Keldysh.

CO-DIRECTOR POST AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY MARINE LAB

Gene Kaplan of Hofstra University (NY) started the marine lab 15 years ago with a view to giving American students a once-in-a-lifetime experience of another culture, as well as educating them in marine biology. The lab now has a throughput of 800 highschool, undergraduate, postgraduate and elderhostel students per year. Each year a new set of directors (usually a couple) have the task of organising the day to day running of the lab, instructing students on a wide variety of subjects relating to tropical marine biology and bridging the culture gap between American/European visitors and Jamaican staff. This required tact, tenacity, patience and occasionally sheer bloody-mindedness. While at HUML Sarah Bronsdon & I instigated a Coral Reef Awareness Program which encouraged visiting students to donate funds which allowed us to give Jamaican schoolkids field courses at the lab.

SCIENTIFIC CO-ORDINATOR POST WITH THE SHOALS OF CAPRICORN PROGRAMME

The 2 year Shoals of Capricorn Programme, which is run by the Royal Geographical Society, hopes to encourage investigation of the Mascarene Plateau and develop local expertise in environmetal resource management to the point where such programmes are no longer required. My role in the programme was to assist visiting scientists in their investigations and instigate local monitoring and training initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES, MISCELLANEOUS ACHIEVEMENTS & AMBITIONS

Throughout my career I have served as a student course, or faculty, representative. While participating in long cruises I became spokesperson for student and non-funded members of the scientific crew. I figured significantly in the Channel 4 documentary about the BRAVEX cruise. Whilst studying at Leicester, I organised a discussion group that served as a forum for departmental members to discuss various aspects of biology in an informal and stimulating environment. I demonstrated and gave tutorials on a wide range of topics to zoology undergraduates.

I want to be an applied marine biologist, complete an Open University Degree in something other than science and play Bachs partitas on the violin.