The idea for Red Handfish Finding via Women Diving came from one of many passionate brainstorms about environmental conservation I had with my colleagues at Marine Solutions. We are often dreaming up big ideas for implementing change in our field, but finding time between work and life makes it difficult to put those ideas into motion. It wasn’t until the MJK Bursary application reached my inbox that I took the first steps…

The project I proposed had two main objectives:

• Implement a field survey to contribute to presence/absence datasets on the critically endangered red handfish (Thymichthys politus), a species

  that is close to my heart.

• Involve as many of the women I work with in the project as possible, advancing our collective field skills (in particular, diving and vessel operations).

My colleagues and I were thrilled when the project was selected as a finalist for the MJK Bursary and ready to get to work. Serendipitously, at the same time the project was selected as a finalist, an exciting opportunity appeared on my desk at Marine Solutions. As part of a project for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tasmania), many of the women at work and I would be spending the following months in the field conducting targeted surveys for the incredibly charismatic red handfish. Supported by the MJK Bursary and our generous boss Sam Ibbott, in the lead up to the NRE Tasmania project, we were provided with the opportunity to upskill in vessel operations, survey techniques, leadership, and diving. Developing our skills through the Red Handfish Finding via Women Diving project and being able to implement them in a meaning way has been very rewarding.

The red handfish project has been the biggest highlight of my scientific career so far, especially as on many field trips, operations were conducted entirely by women, all keen conservationists in the early stages of their careers. The team have become completely enamoured with the species and the red handfish now has a new cohort of skilled and passionate protectors!

The MJK Bursary kickstarted my involvement in meaningful conservation work, it has opened so many new doors not only for myself but also for the women that I work with and we are incredibly grateful. There are so many brilliant women working in STEM in Lutruwita/Tasmania, I hope many more will be encouraged to apply for the grant to support existing projects, or as it was for me, to spark the start of something new.

Mel, you left a beautiful legacy through the Landscape Recovery Foundation – Thank you.