I am the Education Aquarist at Hatfield Marine Science Center and will be attending the aquarium science program through Oregon Coast Community College this fall. I am in charge of the animals in the two education classrooms. Students K-12 are able to get hands on experience with marine animals and have labs such as habitat building and crab racing. I am currently taking care of the biomedical tanks in the Visitor Center, which consist of zebra and sword-tail fish, as well as the new red octopus. I am also in charge of our new upcoming exhibit called project Piaba. The goal of the project is to help inform people of where their aquarium fish come from and to support the Amazon aquarium fish trade rather than fish farms. The fish are collected by native people living along the Amazon river. With the help of scientists and volunteers these fish are caught following the “best handling practices” (BHP) protocol. I also help with quarantining, culturing, and medical treatment of the aquarium animals (see the pic of me doing a blood draw on a small shark). Basically, I get to play with fish and invertebrates every day.
