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Meet Natalie Robinson

Job: 

Oceanographer

Job description: 

Collect measurements of temperature, salinity and current speed/direction in the ocean – especially Antarctica – and use those to understand processes.

Work background: 

I am trying to understand the ‘nitty-gritty’ of these special processes, so that other people can use my findings to make better predictions of how the ice will respond to a warming ocean.

Favourite part of job: 

Taking time to carefully think about what my data are telling me, and coming up with a really new idea. Oh, and I get to go to Antarctica for my job!

Least favourite part of job: 

Leaving my kids for work each day, and for weeks when I have field work to do.

What I am working on now: 

We are looking at the ice crystals that naturally form in ‘supercool’ water – that’s water that should have frozen, but for a while remains liquid anyway. So, we have ice crystals bathed in water that wants to freeze – it makes for some really interesting processes.

Qualifications: 

PhD in Marine Physics. I also have a degree in Accountancy and a diploma in performance piano.

Interests outside work: 

Circus training, salsa dancing, long-distance running, knitting, spinning (yarn), raising my kids (ages 3, 5 & 7).


Natalie Robinson is an Oceanographer with NIWA. Image: Brett Grant.