Scottish Oceans Institute

Wed, Oct 16th 2024 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Caitlin Downie gave a lunchtime presentation before a conducted tour of the Scottish Oceans Institute.

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Caitlin Downie, from the University’s Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI), recounted the career path that brought her from her childhood in Leven to her current post as Technician in the Sea Mammal Research Unit. After graduating in Animal Biology, Caitlin moved to Australia where she was able to pursue her interest in marine life in an unexpected way – as manager of an oyster farm. She broadened her expertise with a job cultivating algae, as food for shellfish, before returning to Scotland to put her career on a more solid footing. That came by studying for a Diploma in Management and Leadership while working as a Biology Stores Manager here at the University. Along with the practical experience gained in Australia, and a later qualification in Occupational Health and Safety, this led to her present role – or, rather, roles because Caitlin is also Health and Safety Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator for the entire SOI. Her talk, which generated many questions about such matters as why the seal population is declining and the use of hydrophones to keep sea mammals at a safe distance from marine engineering projects, was the prelude to a visit to the SOI, a building that her audience had often passed but never seen inside. Caitlin showed them two of the labs housing research aquaria, a cold one for sea squirts and a warm one for algae. No seals were present in the impressive outdoor pool, where factors affecting the length of time seals can spend underwater is one subject of study, but the next best thing was PinniFred: a seal pup model created at the SOI to enable researchers and vets to learn how to handle these wonderful creatures, for instance when administering injections, in the most humane and effective way.