MSCA fellow. Dr Marija Sciberras. Mobility takes research further

Transcription

1 MSCA fellow Mobility takes research further Dr Marija Sciberras MSCA 2017 Mobility takes research further May 2017, Esplora, Kalkara, Malta

2 MSCA fellow (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions factsheet. EU Commission)

3 MSCA fellow for Malta

4 Women in science Marie Skłodowska-Curie Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained! As quoted in Madame Curie: A Biography, (1937) by Eve Curie Labouisse, Part 2, p. 116

5 Mobility in my research career University of Malta B.Sc (Biol & Chem) Research assistant Bangor university M.Sc PhD (Marine Ecology) Postdoc researcher Marine Institute, University of Plymouth Postdoc researcher

6 Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Mallorca, Spain Marie Curie Fellow researcher Mobility in my research career

7 My research Anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems

8 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) My research Measures to mitigate impacts on marine ecosystems

9 My research

10 My research Soft sediment communities more than meets the eye!

11 My Marie Curie research Project PIONEER Posidonia oceanica Seagrass meadow EU Habitats Directive (92/43/ECC) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) Seagrass roots

12 Project PIONEER Ecological importance of seagrass meadows Nursery ground for juvenile fish Feeding ground for marine animals Socio-economic importance of seagrass meadows Recreational fishing Cultural value

13 Current distribution of Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Telesca et al Nature Scientific Reports, 5:12505 DOI: /srep12505

14 Gulf of Asinara, Sardinia, Italy Known areas with reported Posidonia oceanica habitat loss in the Mediterranean over the last 50 years Telesca et al Nature Scientific Reports, 5:12505 DOI: /srep12505

15 Project PIONEER Causes of seagrass habitat loss and degradation Healthy meadows Degraded meadows

16 Source: Project PIONEER Distribution of seagrass meadows in the Balearic Islands Menorca Mallorca Ibiza Pressures on seagrass: 14 million visitors in ports, 103 recreational marinas and a total of 14,669 moorings over 50,000 locally registered recreational anglers

17 Objectives of project PIONEER Objective 1. What is the environmental status of seagrass beds in the Balearics? Patch size: how big? Habitat fragmentation: Intact vs. fragmented habitat How fragmented is the meadow? Are patches well connected to each other? Survey area and research methods Survey area Underwater cameras SCUBA diving

18 Objectives of project PIONEER Objective 2. What are the ecological implications of seagrass habitat degradation? How is fish growth rate affected? How are fish populations impacted? Research methods Non-destructive scientific sampling methods

19 Objectives of project PIONEER Objective 3. What are the socio-economic implications of seagrass habitat degradation? How is the recreational fishing sector affected? Recreational fishermen perception on sustainability of seagrass habitats Questionnaire survey Discussion meetings

20 Significance of MSCA fellowship for me Career progression & research autonomy Business enterprise sector Government sector First stage researcher (R1) Higher education sector

21 Significance of MSCA fellowship for me Career progression & research autonomy Higher education sector First stage researcher (R1) Recognized researcher (R2) Established researcher (R3) Leading researcher (R4) Postdoctoral researcher I am here

22 Significance of MSCA fellowship for me Advancement of research skills Experience of working with leading experts Expansion of professional contacts to Southern Europe Job security Opportunity to bring science to the public: inform & educate

23 Thank you for your attention Grazzi tà l-attenzjoni tagħkom Dr Marija Sciberras MSCA 2017 Mobility takes research further May 2017, Esplora, Kalkara, Malta