UNITED States PhD student Taylor Bratton, now studying at the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) through a collaboration with Coffs Harbour Rotary Club, will make the city her home for the next three years.
A first-year PhD candidate at Southern Cross University (SCU), Ms Bratton chose the location to work with a leading scientist on small-scale fisheries, Professor Steven Purcell.
As an American student researching African fisheries at an Australian university, she required funding.
“That’s when I discovered the Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarship, a lesser known scheme in international postgraduate research funding.
“While the application process is long, complex, with a lot of ‘checks and balances’ along the way, it’s a scheme that fit with my qualifications and research plan.”
With support from the Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club in the US she launched the Cycle for Sea Cucumbers Ocean-a-thon, a two-day ride down the California coast to raise funds herself.
Along the way, she stopped at 15 marine science ‘landmarks’, livestreamed quirky science videos, and invited people to pledge donations per stop.
Upon arriving in Australia, the Coffs Harbour Daybreak Rotary Club became her host club.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary, Coffs Harbour Daybreak Rotary, and the Rotary Foundation for trusting me throughout the process, and to my supervisors, Steve Purcell and David Abrego, for mentoring me through the maze of project planning and for believing that I am up to the challenge.”
Known as Sea Cucumber Girl for her specific interest in invertebrate fisheries, and how sea cucumbers are fished and traded, Taylor and Professor Purcell began designing a project that integrates sea cucumber trade, conservation policy, and the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk.
“My PhD investigates how international trade regulations under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) for six species of economically important sea cucumbers, are affecting management, trade and livelihoods,” she said.
“However, we are specifically investigating these themes in the Western Indian Ocean, an area that is notably understudied but undeniably important.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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