Marine biologist to present research paper in Spain

MARINE biologist Wilma Mavea, a graduate of The University of Papua New Guinea, will travel to Spain next week to present her research at the World Marine Mammal Conference in Barcelona.
Mavea is one of only 12 researchers worldwide to be awarded a prestigious conference travel grant by the Society for Marine Mammalogy.
“At the conference I’ll see presentations by researchers from around the world, meet with world marine mammal experts, and take part in a training workshop in marine mammal research skills,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity, and a big step towards my goal of working to do research and conserve the endangered dolphins (also known as ‘Pidu’) of the Kikori delta of Gulf.”
Mavea has researched the conservation status of whales, dolphins and dugongs in Papua New Guinea waters, supported by a 2016 ExxonMobil Pidu Scholarship.
As part of that project she compiled a checklist of all scientifically recorded marine mammals for PNG, with a focus on records for the Kikori delta.
The scholarship has enabled her to be jointly supervised by associate professor Augustine Mungkaje from UPNG and Dr Isabel Beasley from James Cook University, Australia.
“We’re extremely proud of Wilma’s accomplishments over the past few years, and are impressed by her dedication to marine mammal conservation in PNG,” Beasley, who is the Pidu scholarship programme manager, said.
“Wilma will be the first Papua New Guinean to attend the conference.
“Presenting her research at a global conference will be valuable experience and is a reflection of the quality of her work.”
Mavea graduated from UPNG with the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in 2018, and now works full-time as Pidu project officer with the Pidu Biodiversity Network.
She also plans to undertake further postgraduate study.