Expedition Guiding
Alongside my academic interests, I work aboard expedition cruises as an ornithologist, marine scientist, or naturalist.
My research career has afforded me fascinating insights into the lives of marine animals, beyond the ‘facts’ found in guidebooks. I believe that conveying this knowledge to guests in an easily understandable format adds a unique dimension to their experience. Below, I list a few lecture topics that have captivated guests in the past.
Current qualifications and certificates
- Norwegian Maritime Authority Medical (2024)
- RYA Powerboat Level II (2024)
- IAATO Field staff online assessment (2024)
- STCW (2025) – Medical First Aid, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, Personal Survival Techniques, Security Awareness Training, Passenger Ship Crowd Management, Crisis Management and Human Behavior
Example lectures
Penguin prey pursuits: The science that reveals how penguins hunt
Just as the Food and Beverage Manager on an expedition vessel ensures guests have enough to eat, researchers study the foraging behavior of penguins to help secure their food supply. This lecture explores the rarely observed behaviors of penguins at sea and how tracking penguin movements and hunting strategies inform conservation efforts in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Antarctic penguins on thin ice
This talk explores the unique life history strategies of Antarctic penguins, from emperor penguins fasting during the Antarctic winter while incubating their eggs on the sea ice, to brush-tailed penguins timing their reproduction with peak food availability in the Antarctic summer. I also highlight the complex challenges that these penguins face in a changing world.
The flying seabirds that wander the Southern Ocean
Albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters are among the most efficient travelers on Earth. Through dynamic soaring, they harness the Southern Ocean winds to glide effortlessly across vast distances. In this talk, I explore the remarkable journeys of flying seabirds commonly encountered in the Antarctic Peninsula region. I also highlight the conservation challenges these ocean wanderers face and the efforts being made to protect them.
The astonishing underwater lives of elephant seals
Southern elephant seals are not built for speed, yet they are remarkably successful hunters. In this talk, we dive into the secret lives of elephant seals, exploring their incredible adaptations for a life at depth. Using underwater video footage, we’ll uncover how these animals hunt and even sleep in the dark, unseen world far beneath the waves.
Freeze-dried fieldwork: Tales of living and working around Antarctica
In this talk, I share my personal journey as a researcher studying marine predators in some of the world’s most secluded environments. From overwintering in the Sub-Antarctic to extended tent camps in Antarctica, and even exploring the most remote island on Earth, I’ll recount adventures and shed light on life in research camps and stations across the Antarctic region.