Abigail Marcella Irwin

What did you major in?
Marine Science and Management.

What did you do before you started your course?
I did my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology from a university in my hometown of Visakhapatnam, India.

What motivated you to study this degree/major?
Choosing to study marine science was an easy choice because it combined two of my passions- the study of animals and the ocean. Ever since I was little, I have always been an animal lover so much so that at one point, my family had seven dogs, two monkeys, a tortoise, a terrapin, a chicken and a hare- all of whom were rescued!  As far back as I can remember, I've always been a water baby so when it came to deciding on a field of study, marine sciences was the obvious choice.

What do you enjoy most about your degree?
I love that it involves so much of practical, hands-on experience. As part of my one year of  research, I managed my own project that involved working with both fishes and people!. As a marine science student, to be afforded the opportunity to not only get out in the field and examine how different factors in the natural environment interact, but also to be exposed to the workings of various Australian governing bodies, their organisational hierarchies and the levels of bureaucracy involved in getting a project approved and noticed, has been educative and enlightening.

Why did you choose to study at UTS?
As an international student, I had to rely on online resources and word-of-mouth to determine my choice of university. UTS happened to be the one I went with in the end because I loved the structure of the course and the fact that even in a coursework degree, I had the option of selecting to do a research component which was an extremely important factor to me. Additionally, I found that UTS had a good academic ranking. Its convenient location also played a role.

What is it like to study at UTS Science?
Studying a Marine science degree at UTS has pushed me far out of my comfort zone and allowed me the opportunity to work with intelligent, passionate people who share the common goal of contributing to our knowledge of the natural environment. Due to my field work, I have travelled to places I never would have otherwise gone to. I have had to look after and work with live fish, convince people I had never met before to support my project and I have learnt, through first hand experience, that no matter how much you plan, some things will inevitably go wrong. However, the people at UTS have been extremely  supportive and wonderful through it all. As an international student who has at times felt lost, the amazing people in the Fish Ecology Laboratory have become a big part of my support system.

What advice you would give to students studying this degree?
To future marine science students , I would say be curious and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how silly they may sound in your head—we all had to start at that place. Don't be afraid to take chances and ask for help when you need it. There's always someone at UTS around who is willing to help. Conferences are a good opportunity to learn about ongoing projects in your discipline and to network with people from different Universities so if you get the opportunity to attend -take it! I would also like to say that if you are unsure about what you want to do, take a few months to volunteer at the laboratory. It will give you a sense of the place, the people you will be working with and the potential projects that you could work on. Last, I would say work hard. I feel that the importance of  hard work and perseverance  is underrated, and I have found that if you keep at it long enough and give it your best, good things will come.

What would you like to do once you complete your degree?
I would like to get a PhD but before that, I really want to get some experience working in industry.

What other activities do you participate/do at uni?
I have taken part in the leadership and community-oriented programs like SOUL and UTS BUiLD . Apart form that I volunteer during my spare time.

Tell us something interesting about yourself
When I was in 10th grade, I rescued a bronze back tree snake that had made its way into once of the classrooms at my high school, much to the consternation of the school faculty. I like to surf (but I'm not necessarily good at it!). I love reading - James Rollins, John Grisham and Wilbur Smith are my favourite authors. I love turf grass - just the sight of it makes me want to roll around on it!