I have many fond memories of my time at DHSG. In particular I remember the strong school spirit and pride instilled in all of us as part of the school community. DHSG cultivated the interest in science that has driven my career. My science, technology and geography teachers, and the opportunities provided whilst at DHSG, were a big influence on my decision to become a research scientist. In particular I remember being involved in an engineering programme with the Royal Navy and the University of Bath, and a really fun physics competition; which introduced me to science in the real world and gave me confidence to pursue a career in these fields.

My school memories

I have many fond memories of my time at DHSG. In particular I remember the strong school spirit and pride instilled in all of us as part of the school community. DHSG cultivated the interest in science that has driven my career. My science, technology and geography teachers, and the opportunities provided whilst at DHSG, were a big influence on my decision to become a research scientist. In particular I remember being involved in an engineering programme with the Royal Navy and the University of Bath, and a really fun physics competition; which introduced me to science in the real world and gave me confidence to pursue a career in these fields.

What did you do after DHSG?

After leaving DHSG I went to Plymouth University to study Environmental Sciences. There I found a particular passion for ocean sciences and scientific research and received a scholarship to study for a masters degree in oceanography at the University of Southampton. After graduating from Southampton, I travelled and spent some time scuba diving around South East Asia before deciding to apply for a PhD.  Combining my love of travel and desire for a career in scientific research lead me to the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where I spent 4 years conducting my PhD research on the use of satellite data for monitoring coastal water quality and algal blooms. Post-PhD I have returned to Plymouth and now work as a Marine Earth Observation Scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. I work on international research programmes, which aim to expand the use of satellite data for the benefit of society and the marine environment. I’m also involved in lots of projects to encourage women to pursue careers in science and hope to link with DHSG on this in the future.

Tips and advice

To school leavers I would say – find what you are really interested in and passionate about and follow that. It won’t always be easy but if you have that interest and passion, it will get you through the difficult bits. I really struggled with my A Levels and changed my mind about my university studies part way through. Maths and Physics were the basis of all my interests – engineering, oceanography, and space science - and I really struggled with those subjects. With the support of DHSG staff and encouragement of many mentors throughout my university studies, I now work in a job that requires me to use maths and physics every day. So you can achieve your goals, even if some things don’t come easily at first!

For parents I would say that DHSG will give your child the confidence and encouragement to determine their own goals and achieve them.  It is a great environment for keen young women to find what they are interested in, and access the opportunities and support needed to turn those interests in to a career.