Junior SeaKeepers Webinar 4: Science in the South Pacific

On November 18, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted our fourth webinar of the 2025-26 Junior SeaKeepers program, where we were extremely lucky to hear from Alex Vallim, the Programme Manager for SeaKeepers’ South Pacific chapter. Alex has extensive background in marine science, holding a master’s degree in aquatic Biodiversity as well as currently pursuing a PhD in marine science at Auckland University in New Zealand. For our webinar, she shared all about the incredible work that SeaKeepers South Pacific does and how it differs from Florida’s based on their unique ecosystems and geography, as well as shared insight about the PhD process and all about her personal research areas of expertise surrounding her PhD project, which looks into the fluctuation and cycling of various chemicals and sediment compounds in the benthic marine environment especially by unique kinds of marine life called bioturbators. Alex also took the time to field many great questions from the JSKs about her research and experiences as a scientist in the South Pacific. We give an immense thank you to Alex for joining us, answering our questions, and for sharing all about her incredible research both at SeaKeepers and in her own personal studies, and wish her nothing but the best as she continues her PhD!