Anna Sowa, MSc

What’s the work that you do?

My current work as a PhD student is focused on long-term changes in the process of recruitment of epibenthos on hard bottoms in the Svalbard region. Because you can’t really dredge a hard substrate for samples without damaging your gear, we used experimental constructions holding settlement plates at the bottom of Isfjorden. They ensure replicable results and allow a comparison of the assemblage composition over the years. I’m happy to see a move toward less invasive methods in the field studies. Before my doctoral project, I was researching the seasonality of benthic larvae settlement. I also took part in a few research cruises to the Arctic collecting a wide range of samples for projects I was directly involved in as well as some for my colleagues.

What keeps you going?

I love being in the field, collecting samples and analyzing them. Working with organisms and trying to identify them is my favorite part of the job. But I also love the people that I came across along the way. Also, I get a lot of inspiration from popular science books, especially those written by scientists. I really want to get better at communicating science – it’s definitely a useful skill.

What’s your message to the world?

We need to care about the world around us. Sometimes just taking a moment to spend some time in nature (as simple as a walk through a park on the way to work) can help build that connection.