Anna Osiecka, MSc

What’s the work that you do?

I study the vocal behaviour of marine birds and mammals. My main interests lie in what information can be coded in vocalisations (e.g., sex, ID, emotional state), and how it can be coded (e.g., frequency or time domain, or perhaps maintaining or losing the rhythm). I also try to do some work to improve equity and achieve proper pay to the workers in STEM.

What keeps you going?

I LOVE the fieldwork, and I truly love writing. Love it. Nothing can beat being out in nature with my amazing animals. But I also really enjoy working with people – the great company of curious, bright people who share this passion. But funds, colleagues and life can also be tricky, so I am lucky to also live and breathe roller derby.

What’s your message to the world?

First of all, pay your staff fair money – that includes students, interns and the field folks – and treat them as the full, complex humans they are, not your simplified idea of a colleague! Also, I think we in polar research should put so much more effort into strengthening collaborations, maximising data output and use, and limiting our footprint – be it the tons of plastic and animal produce brought to the field, or the frequent trips that could be limited via better research networks. There’s room to do better.