Students in Year 10 had the unique opportunity to connect with an expedition in the Arctic. Ceri Lewis, a marine biologist with a research focus on the environmental biology of marine invertebrates spoke with the Year 10 students via skype last Friday.

Ceris’s research aims to further our understanding of how marine invertebrates adapt and survive in a changing and increasingly polluted marine environment. Her research also highlights the potential impacts of environmental change on their reproductive processes and life history evolution.

The Year 10 students had each prepared non-Googleable questions to ask Ceri during their 30 min skype lesson. Ceri was able to engage the student’s right from the beginning and showed them many interesting photos of her adventures in the Arctic, including a photo of herself sleeping in the specially equipped sleeping bags outside in freezing temperatures. The discussion became more interactive nearer the end when the students could ask their prepared questions.

Ceri shared her interest in copepods and explained why the research had to be carried out in situ in the Arctic – It took 3 days to get to her lab in which time all the copepods would be dead.  Some of the students even noticed she had a copepod necklace – She laughed at this and said “yes, I’m obsessed”.

Several students were interested in studying marine biology and she was kind enough to talk about the different UK Universities and the pathway that she took to becoming a marine biologist.  Ceri then suggested some ways in which students could already get involved in marine biology, by helping out with clearing beaches or even working to preserve turtles.

Ceri was extremely knowledgeable and was able to answer the students’ questions in a way that would be understood from their perspective. Her genuine love for her work shone through inspiring the students to learn more about this field of work.