TESSA THOMSON
Undergraduate Student, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka, New Zealand.
What is your current role?
I am currently two years into studying towards a Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Biology and Māori Resource Management at Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka. I am also in an internship position at NIWA Wellington, looking into deep-sea images and the organisms associated with methane seeps. I am passionate about the marine environment, and especially how we can make New Zealand’s ecosystems the healthiest they can be – to in turn make our people the best they can be.
What has your career path been like?
I am very lucky to be studying at Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka, and I moved onto studying straight out of high school. This year, I was looking for a summer internship that would give me motivation and experience that would set me up well for the final year of my undergraduate degree. That is when I got talking to Ashley Rowden and was offered the wonderful internship here at NIWA.
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Everything happens for a reason, and where you are in each moment is where you are meant to be. It is the opportunity for more learning, more growth, and more happiness. (very true for myself right now!)
What do you enjoy most about your research? And what made you choose this field?
In my final year of high school I attended a biology field trip to Mexico, and volunteered with an organisation called Operation Wallacea (OPWALL). We spent one week in the terrestrial environment and then moved into a marine environment for our final week. This is when I decided that I wanted to study marine biology, and become a person that would look after our marine environment and ecosystems in the best way I could.
What does a typical day of study involve for you?
An average day at Victoria involves a different selection of lectures, labs, and tutorials – which keeps the days interesting and never the same. Studying about not only science but also my culture helps add variety to my days, and it also encourages me to create links between the two. My days at NIWA see me analysing deep sea imagery, organising indigenous outreach and communications, and learning everyday about things that I would never learn in a lecture theatre. I have learnt how to navigate myself around a scientific organisation, and the importance of connection and relationships with others.
Is there anything you find difficult/challenging? If so, how do you deal with this, is there any advice you have for someone in a similar position?
“So, while I find it difficult being the extremely small, oddly coloured fish in a huge ocean, I just remember that I am one of many creating positive change in this profession.
I am a 19 year old indigenous woman working in science, which could be considered to be uncommon. The thing I find exciting about this however is the fact that times are changing. There are more women, more indigenous peoples, and a wave of young and fresh faces coming into the scientific profession. So, while I find it difficult being the extremely small, oddly coloured fish in a huge ocean, I just remember that I am one of many creating positive change in this profession. I do the work that I do for the people who will come after me, and that is what motivates me to deal with issues I have head on.
Where are you hoping to end up in your career?
Because I am considerably young, I believe my options are endless. I plan on doing postgraduate studies, but am undecided as to what in. I would really like to be an educator, or work on looking after Māori – the people, the resources, the future of the culture. I have three main passions, science, Māoritanga, and education. These three things drive me into the work I do each day – and I hope that I can contribute to all three passions throughout my life – professionally and otherwise.
What do you see as the next steps forward in your field?
I would love to help the people, who are already doing an amazing job, look after the precious ecosystems we have here in Aotearoa. I am really interested in helping Māori look after their native ecosystems, as this feeds directly back to the people themselves. Assisting iwi in looking after their natural taonga is something I hope to do in the future. The next steps for me is to keep learning – so I can share the knowledge to sustain and improve biological communities. I should also probably graduate University!