Riesna R. Audh

What’s the work that you do?

I am an early career researcher pursuing a PhD in Oceanography at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. My particular area of interest and expertise is with young sea ice in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone. My research uses numerical modelling and sea ice cores to investigate the thermodynamic growth of young sea ice and to simulate the biogeochemical properties of this ice in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone. I’m interested in how sea ice grows and influences the surrounding ocean and how climate change would impact the ice environment and in turn our oceans.

What keeps you going?

I am obsessed with sea ice! I think it’s incredibly cool and that more people should know about it. I hope to use my research to increase awareness of the importance of the polar regions and what our changing climate means for these vulnerable regions. I believe that collaboration across institutions and disciplines is crucial for the future of polar research. The experiences I have had in these spaces have affirmed the importance of this for me and motivate me to keep contributing towards collaborative initiatives.

What’s your message to the world?

I am a firm believer in science being accessible and inclusive. Throughout my career in science and in research, this has not always been my experience. This has led me to play an active role in facilitating change and transformation within the spaces I occupy. I believe that accessibility, inclusivity and visibility are vital in order to grow this field and encourage the next generation of polar researchers.