Students chosen as Blake Ambassadors

STUDENTS from the University of Otago have won Blake Ambassadorships and will be heading out to help the environment this summer — in fields ranging from aquaculture to helping save kiwi and kakapo.

The programmes, which take place every year, are designed to advance understanding of some of the questions and challenges facing the environment, and enhance students’ leadership capability.

Erin Greenwood (23) said she was ‘‘so excited’’ about her ambassadorship to join the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) aquaculture team at the Northland Marine Science Centre, New Zealand’s largest landbased marine research facility.

The secondyear marine science and ecology student said she hoped to work in the field of ocean biodiversity and climate change when she graduated, and could imagine working for Niwa in the future.

She understood she would be helping scientists with their daytoday tasks.

‘‘It’s an amazing opportunity to be selected.’’

She was leaving on November 19, and would be based at the centre until December 7.

Adam Currie (19) will be conducting research on New Zealand’s native freshwater fish, and will be involved in fishing surveys in the Waikato region, and Emily Gordon (23) will be involved in Niwa’s climate and atmospheric research programmes, conducting measurements and analysis of climate and atmospheric change.

Aidan Braid (20) and Skye Anderson (22) will join Department of Conservation rangers and partners on the Rotoiti Nature Recover Project (RNRO) in February, and Ms Anderson will also assist Doc rangers as part of the ‘‘Save our Iconic Kiwi’’ project in March.

Sarah Manktelow (20) will work with Doc’s kakapo recovery team to protect critically endangered kakapo between January 9 and January 23.

Earlier this year, University of Otago student Millie Mannering (19) was also chosen as a Blake Ambassador, and took part in a 16day Caribbean and Atlantic voyage on board Sir Peter Blake’s schooner Tara.

Fellow student Lana Young (23) was also named an ambassador, and took part in a monthlong science voyage on

PHOTO: SUPPLIED Happy outcome . . . Blake Ambassadors University of Otago students (back, from left) Adam Currie, Emily Gordon, Lana Young, Sarah Manktelow, Aidan Braid, (front, from left) Erin Greenwood, Millie Mannering and Skye Anderson.