People and Dolphins and Whales, Oh MY!

Dolphin Research Institute has been around now for 31 years and our focus is on marine conservation, leadership, research and education. Education is my role and we work with many organisations and schools.

The presentation will focus on our resident dolphins, migrating whales (as it’s almost the winter season), how we track health and populations, some stories of their threats and resilience, together with images from our bays. What role does citizen science play and how you can get involved?

From the UK originally, Mandy studied Microbiology at Leeds University and spent the first years in medical research:

• Cancer Research UK Birmingham University - cervical cancer vaccine
• Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Melbourne University- diabetes prophylaxis

On returning to the UK in 1995, Mandy became a secondary teacher in sciences and also an external examiner for A Level, GCSE and SATs (NAPLAN). She moved to Australia in 2007 with her partner and young son and was a stay-at-home mum for 2 years.

Rather than go back into formal teaching, Mandy became involved in the conservation world, working part-time with Clean Ocean Foundation, campaigning for upgrades to the outfall at Gunnamatta on the Mornington Peninsula, where she lives. Mandy joined the Dolphin Research Institute as Education Director in 2011 and has been there since, presenting the programs including the primary school leadership program to 90 schools across the Melbourne metro region. She is also a member of Rye Beach Patrol and the Save Our Spider Crabs Committee, asking for a No Take season during the moulting aggregations in winter.

When not working or “saving the planet” she will be found snorkelling, kayaking or climbing.