Work experience within Charles Darwin University’s marine ecology unit has given a Darwin High School student valuable insights into a field she one day hopes to enter.
During the recent school holidays, Chloe Pelizc, a year 11 student, spent 20 hours of work experience with the shark research team as a part of the CSIRO student research scheme.
Entrusted with investigating the previously unknown diet of river sharks, Chloe joined supervisor and PhD candidate Bree Tillett in dissecting and examining several river sharks.
Ms Tillett said Chloe was one of a select group of students chosen from NT schools to take part in the student research initiative.
“Chloe was an absolute joy to have and demonstrated the applied knowledge and resourcefulness which will stand her in great stead for a career as a researcher,” she said.
“I have had an absolutely wonderful experience and it has been an excellent opportunity for me to increase my knowledge and experience in the area of marine ecology,” she said.
The budding scientist will give a class presentation on her experience to explain the vital role of scientific shark research in the community.
The student research scheme offers senior secondary students the rare opportunity to experience professional scientific research by completing challenging projects under the guidance of a research scientist.