Student showcase

Tracking trace metals in harbours

Reid Forrest, an ex-student at Marlborough Boys’ College, attended the Genesis Research Forum in 2000 and has been on the RSNZ Young Achievers’ database since that time.

Reid has just completed a post-graduate diploma in marine science in 2005 at Otago University, after completing his BSc in Zoology in 2004. He topped the Post-grad Marine Science class in the scientific research paper he had to complete winning the John Jillett Marine Science prize for most outstanding research by a post-graduate diploma student, for his research on the uptake of trace-metals into the calcareous tests of foraminifera in harbour environments. He is currently tidying up this study to have the results published in either a New Zealand or international scientific publication.

With the top results he attained last year and the research prize he was awarded a University of Otago Scholarship and will complete his masters degree in marine science this year. Reid approached the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, and also Landcare, two large research and environmental monitoring companies, and will be basing his research with them looking at the impacts of elevated levels of trace metals in the Motueka river plume. With funding from the University and the Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) programme being run by Landcare, TDC and the Cawthron Institute, his masters degree research will be well funded and well received. Being based in Nelson for the masters working with these companies will give him the skills, contacts and experience to hopefully make getting a job in the marine science field much easier when he finishes.