Making a global impact one dive at a time

(Image credit: CSIRO)

British Science Week 2023 is running from 10-19 March this year to celebrate all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). 

For us, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate you, Portsmouth alumni, as we meet with graduates who are passionate about their careers and making a difference. They will also share their words of advice with graduates and students looking to work within STEM fields.

Lauren Hardiman graduated in 2005 after studying BSc (Hons) Marine Science and Polluted Ecosystems. She now lives in Brisbane, Australia as a Research Technician for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Her resilience and determination have led her to a fulfilling career of excitement and learning with field trips, projects, research and more; all to help tackle the ongoing environmental challenges. We hear Lauren’s story below:

Portsmouth and beyond

For my undergraduate degree, I chose to study at Portsmouth because I wanted to be by the coast and the course covered broad science subjects, not just marine science, giving me a good science foundation. The laboratories at Langstone Harbour exceeded my expectations and I've heard there are even more facilities there now. It also wasn’t too far from my hometown, London.

Portsmouth gave me a good grounding in science. The university taught me to understand a range of concepts not just in marine biology but other areas such as biochemistry, microbiology and earth history and evolution. During my studies, I realised my biggest interest was in conservation. 

I also learnt how to dive as part of the course at Portsmouth. To this day, I tell marine scientists working in the pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef about my experience of diving in an old quarry. The visibility was so bad I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face! This training exposed me to varied conditions. And, if you can dive in the UK, you can dive in most places.

When I graduated, I was determined to go travelling and see the world. This took me on to a dive master’s in Thailand which has given me the opportunity to dive in my current job. After this, I moved to New Zealand and worked on whale watching boats giving tours on the local wildlife. 

It was only on my return to the UK that I realised how fierce the competition was for jobs in my field so I started volunteering for a range of organisations. I finally landed a job working as a Marine Taxonomist but didn’t like it. I wasn’t inspired looking down at a microscope in a laboratory all day and knew I wanted a more varied role.

After a year, I decided to pursue a postgraduate degree at Exeter University. Then, with my Master’s in hand, I went for an interview with Natural England. Unfortunately, I didn’t land the job and was competing with people from all around the country. 

As you can see from my story, it’s not been a straight or easy path, but it’s just about being persistent… and sometimes being in the right place at the right time.

I decided to try my luck in Australia and within my first year there, I met someone who worked for the Department of Environment and Science. Before I knew it, I joined the Wetlands Team working to conserve wetlands around Queensland which is seven times the size of Great Britain. I worked there for around three years and then took my current position with CSIRO as a Research Technician.

CSIRO and me

CSIRO is Australia's national science organisation and one of the largest and most diverse scientific research organisations in the world. The research focuses on the biggest challenges facing the nation as well as managing national research infrastructure and collections.

I work on a few different research projects, but the main components of my work are in coral restoration and blue carbon research. The job also involves managing projects, writing reports, applying for tenders, diving, undertaking surveys, organising permits, entering and managing data, science communication and the occasional time in the lab.
 

Turning my passions into solutions 

Initially at school, I wanted to be a veterinary nurse until a school trip to Wales with the Field Study Council. It was here I found out about marine science and knew what I wanted to do. 

I’ve always loved nature and the outdoors, and I'm very passionate about the work I do as are the people I work with. I love being at the forefront of new research and working with some of the top scientists in the field, I’m always learning something new. It’s a privilege to contribute to the research being undertaken and help to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

CSIRO works towards translating their research into solutions for real-world problems. For example, we’ve been working with local partners in the Maldives to develop coral restoration methods to assist with reef recovery. We’ve used the experience gained in the Great Barrier Reef to implement methods to upscale coral restoration techniques using coral larvae. I’m optimistic that the valuable work we are doing with our partners will provide solutions. And help manage reefs worldwide too. 

Another example is the IORA Indian Ocean Blue Carbon Hub. The hub has brought scientists to Australia from the Indian Ocean region, to build their capacity in blue carbon finance and research. We’re there to provide advice and expertise to Member States building capacity to help tackle the biggest challenges facing their countries.

I love that I have such a varied job and no day is the same. Although there can be long tiring days, I really like working in the field as this is where I learn the most and obviously get to some pretty special locations! 

Field-trip memories

I’ve been lucky enough to go on quite a few field trips. For the last couple of years, I’ve visited Lizard Island along with Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef during the annual coral spawning. Seeing the coral spawn and the embryos slowly develop into swimming larvae under a microscope for the first time was truly remarkable. I’ll never forget it. 

The voyage out to Mermaid and Ashmore Reef was very memorable too. I’d never been anywhere that remote before, it took a good two-day steam to get out to the location and we experienced some bumpy swells on the way back!

British Science Week 2023 and the theme of connections

The connections I’ve built over the years have enabled me to live and work in Australia. Networking, attending events and reaching out has been valuable to get to where I am. Communication and connection are also important to me on a personal level, I’m not sure what I’d do without the technology that connects me with family and friends in the UK. 

Human connection and collaboration are key to the science I work with daily too. It takes a great team built of different skill sets to connect and solve problems. 

Words of advice

If you want to do what you love – never give up! 

I was quick to learn that after university the things you want don’t always happen quickly, but the skills you build in other roles and at university will transfer, so persevere.