Tanya O’Neill, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I am an environmental soil scientist. My research focuses around understanding and minimizing human impacts of the Antarctic terrestrial environment, and I have research projects in the fields of environmental monitoring of base rebuilds; microplastics and other anthropogenic contaminants; seabirds as vectors for marine to terrestrial transfer of pollutants; and I look after a network of soil climate stations in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica.

What keeps you going?

I am passionate about Antarctica and I am motivated for my work to make a difference and have a platform to share knowledge and inspire change. I feel very fortunate to have had 10 trips to Antarctica and more in sight, and feel with this privilege comes the obligation to communicate our science in a way that inspires others to be environmental stewards too.

What’s your message to the world?

Antarctica belongs to no-one and everyone. Let’s work together to protect it.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is the noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.”

– Confucius, 551BC