Marine Biologist posted to Manihiki

21 yr old Marine Biologist Georgia Langdon from Australia’s Sunshine Coast, is in the Cook Islands on a 12 month contract with our Ministry for Marine Resources.
She spoke with the Times on Friday morning.
Georgia is part Cook Islander on her father’s side and arrived in Rarotonga on 8 March. She graduated in November last year from James Cook University in Townsville where she studied Marine Biology and Aquaculture.
She will spend her first month on Rarotonga familiarizing herself with the work of the Ministry and on Friday will complete a diving course. Next month it will be off to Manihiki where she will work for 11 months assisting the Pearl farmers. She will be the resident pearl Biologist and will also conduct experiments and research. She has not been to Manihiki before but is looking forward to it and to also visiting Rakahanga.
Although her experience in pearl biology is limited she hopes to increase her knowledge while on Manihiki and hopes to learn how to seed pearls. She also hopes to pick up the language quickly. Considering the infrequency of shipping and air services, Georgia says she’s not afraid to resort to fish and coconuts if supplies of the basic necessities run out.
Although Georgia was born and raised in Brisbane, she has been to Rarotonga twice before in 2006 and 2007 to compete in Vaka Eiva.
With so few people of Cook Islands descent involved in Marine Science the Ministry of Education should consider having Georgia meet and speak to local College students about a career in Marine Science. Home grown expertise is invaluable considering the likely impact of climate change in the coming years on our marine based resources.

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