The Shy Albatross - An Interview with Claire Mason
BY MARGAUX MONFARED
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your path into ecology/conservation?
I grew up in regional Australia, a few hours’ drive inland from the coast. Lots of my family, including my parents for a while, worked on the land, so being outdoors was a huge part of my childhood. My parents valued and loved nature and had strong values around sustainability. And I was extremely curious, so at school I loved science. In grade 9 biology, I wrote a research report on the behaviour of albatross – a bird I had never heard of before but was intrigued by because they looked like my pet ducks. I was absolutely blown away by them! I headed off to the big smoke (Brisbane) to study environmental science when I was 17. After a lot of study, some persistent nagging, and with bucket-loads of guidance and support from great scientists and people, I am now coming to the end of my PhD studying a threatened Australian species, the shy albatross.
Moving loggerhead turtle eggs up higher on the beach at Mon Repos, Queensland – my first dabble in climate adaptation, now my field of research!
What does a typical work day look like for you? (If this varies significantly, could you give us a taste of tasks you get to do as part of your job?)
Most days I work at my desk at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, right on the wharf in Hobart, Australia. I’m working with data, running analysis, doing admin for my project like ethics and permits, collaborating and brainstorming with my supervisors and collaborators, and writing grants and scientific manuscripts for publication. My younger self would be devastated that I spend so much of my time indoors, all I ever wanted was to have an outdoor job! But my brain is stimulated, and I get to drive my own research, so I love it. And for a fair chunk of the year, I am in the field. My field site is Albatross Island, a rocky outcrop where thousands of shy albatross breed in pairs over the summer. And I sometimes work on projects for the university and other organisations, or helping friends with field work, and I also have a summer job doing national parks interpretation, so I am very lucky to get a good dose of field time.
Albatross Island (photo credit: Ross Monash)
Why is your research important or what impact can it have on the ecosystem you study?
What drives me is research that improves conservation decisions. I am mostly interested in research questions that inform how we manage and protect Australia’s biodiversity. My PhD project aims to understand exactly how climate (both variability and change) impact shy albatross populations. And in doing so, we can feed this knowledge into the design and implementation of climate adaptation strategies. That is, interventions that aim to boost the species survival if/when things get grim. For example, if my research discovers that it is a string of 30+ degree days that causes a spike in chick deaths, can we install shade clothes or sprinkler systems to keep them cool so more survive?! This is radical! But it is the next frontier in wildlife conservation as many species are already being severely impacted by the changing climate.
Fieldwork on Albatross Island with Dr. Sheryl Hamilton
What has been your experience as a woman working in ocean science?
Most workplaces, including in science, are not really designed for women. (But also need to emphasise that many workplaces can have challenges for those who do not identify as a white, cisgender, straight male). As an individual, I have been supported, encouraged, and given all the resources I have needed to flourish so far in my career. However, as the statistics tell me, the biggest challenges are further down the track in my career. As I start to think about getting a job in the highly competitive academic world, I am aware of the obstacles that could stand in my way, like stereotypes and biases, and not being naturally competitive or assertive and thus not being considered for leadership. If I want a family, I will have a break in my research outputs and have greater responsibilities at home. However overall, I am extremely grateful for having lots of mid-career female scientists to inspire me and that I can relate to. I whole-heartedly believe that the mentoring and support from these females has kept me on the science pathway, without this I do not think I would have stayed. I realise, and appreciate, that the generations of female scientists before me paved the way with very few people above them on the ladder that they could relate to.