The team is growing!

After losing the equipment earlier this year, it became evident that we had to adjust the way we deploy the array. One major change was to add more ballast, so the array doesn’t get dragged by strong currents. Unfortunately, more ballast also meant trickier deployments. So, it became clear that we needed divers. It added more logistics and paperwork, but I am super excited to have now 3 more awesome people joining the team.

Morgan Black
Morgan is a PhD candidate in marine ecology at the University of Victoria and a Hakai Scholar. She is involved in many research projects, but for her PhD she focuses on the ecology and biodiversity of these amazing ancient First Nations structures called clam gardens. She is a very experienced scientific diver, commercial vessel operator and great underwater photographer. Morgan is co-leading all the diving operations with Kieran. Check her website to learn more about Morgan.

Kieran Cox
Kieran is a PhD candidate, Hakai Scholar, and Smithsonian Link Fellow, in marine ecology at the University of Victoria. His research also focuses on the biodiversity responses to shellfish cultivation in British Columbia. But, he is also involved is many other research projects dealing with the impact of noise on fish, microplastics in marine ecosystems, and coral reef ecology. He is very experienced scientific diver and avid photographer. Kieran is co-leading all diving operations with Morgan. Check out his website here.

Jessica Qualley
Jess is the lab manager in the Juanes Lab at the University of Victoria. Her skill set is impressive from necropsying sixgill sharks, analysing salmon diet, to tagging humpback whales and deploying acoustic equipment. She basically knows how to do everything 😉. She is coordinating the logistics of all our deployment and recovery operations and is also the main boat driver.

I feel extremely privileged to have such talented and fun people join the team!