Dr Kirti Lal displays on her PhD journey, from the islands of Fiji to the banks of the Shoalhaven River

Rising up within the islands of Fiji, Dr Kirti Lal was at all times drawn to the outside.

A curious younger scientist, she cherished the ocean and exploring the pure fantastic thing about the coast. Dr Lal appeared destined for a profession in science.

Years later, she will nonetheless be discovered close to the ocean, exploring the coastal geomorphology and landform options, accumulating shells and rocks from the seaside, however now, its coastal wetlands and notably mangroves that draw her consideration.

“I at all times had an curiosity in science. It was a lot enjoyable,” Dr Lal mentioned. “Social sciences gave the impression to be extra sitting and studying, however science took you outside the place you could possibly get your palms soiled, see, really feel and study concerning the world we reside in.

“I took up geography at college and cherished studying concerning the bodily setting, it was fascinating. I additionally cherished chemistry and was contemplating changing into an environmental chemist, however I selected bodily geosciences as a result of it took me outside the place I used to be in a position to find out about dynamic panorama and the completely different processes that form them. That’s what introduced me to Wollongong.”

The College of Wollongong (UOW) graduate, who’s celebrating the completion of her Doctorate of Science, has spent the previous few years wadding by the coastal wetlands of the NSW South Coast. Her PhD analysis has centered on the vulnerability and resilience of coastal wetlands, notably mangroves and saltmarshes to sea-level rise linked to international local weather change.

It has been an enchanting, if at occasions an exhausting journey for Dr Lal, who got here to Australia from Fiji with out figuring out a soul in Wollongong.

“I had accomplished my undergraduate in environmental sciences after which my Grasp of Science in Geography at The College of South Pacific in Fiji, after which I used to be working as a Instructing Assistant within the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science on the similar institute, however I wanted a change,” Dr Lal mentioned. “If I used to be to change into a correct tutorial, a wanted to get a PhD.”

Dr Lal was within the impacts sea-level rise has on coastal ecosystems, and the way small island growing states would reply to the rising urgency of local weather change, a problem that felt notably very important for the Fijian.

After studying, through a colleague, about UOW’s Professor Colin Woodroffe’s analysis in mangroves and coastal geomorphology, who knowledgeable Dr Lal that Affiliate Professor Kerrylee Rogers, who was embarking on an ARC Future Fellow at UOW, was searching for younger researchers to work on tasks taking a look at carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands and their vulnerability to sea-level rise, Dr Lal signed as much as do a PhD at UOW.

Beneath the course of her supervisors, Dr Lal started trying on the resilience and vulnerability of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise over completely different timescales starting from years to millennia.

It was an enormous change, however she cherished the transfer from one “nature-based campus” to a different. “My college in Fiji is about amongst massive mango timber, figs, coconut and palm timber swaying within the sea breeze. Once I got here to UOW it was good to be surrounded by massive timber additionally solely this time they have been eucalypts. The campus is so lovely and inexperienced, it’s magical.”

^{Dr Kirti Lal with one in all her supervisors, Affiliate Professor Kerrylee Rogers. Dr Lal, pictured on campus on her unique commencement day, is carrying Professor Rogers’ commencement robe. Photograph: Paul Jones}

She spent her days conducting fieldwork within the coastal wetlands of Jervis Bay, Minnamurra River, and Shoalhaven Heads, uncovering the completely different processes occurring in coastal wetlands that was essential to understanding how they responded and can reply to sea-level change over time. Fieldwork was one of many highlights of her time at UOW and gave Dr Lal the possibility to expertise the fantastic thing about the area and discover its historical past by its coastal wetlands.

“Mangroves are so dynamic and versatile. They’re extraordinarily productive ecosystems,” Dr Lal mentioned. “They shield the shoreline from damaging waves and storm occasions, forestall coastal erosion and offers a habitat for quite a few marine organisms and birds. With a purpose to maintain themselves in occasions of sea-level rise, they want a continuing provide of sediment from rivers and creeks and the ocean, which they accumulate use to keep up elevation above sea degree.

“In a super scenario, as sea ranges rise, mangroves can rise with them. They will do that rising by upwards [vertically] or migrating landwards if there may be room for them to take action. Think about should you have been within the bathtub and, as we add extra water into the bathtub, we rise upwards to maintain our head above the floor to cease from drowning.

“However in lots of areas mangroves are solely in a position to do that as a result of they’re protected, for instance the areas I’ve labored in are marine protected areas which might be managed by the NSW marine property. However in areas they don’t seem to be protected and there are properties/seawalls that cease their enlargement landwards or sediment provide is restricted, mangroves discover it troublesome to maintain up with sea-level rise and subsequently won’t be able to guard the shoreline and supply their companies to the neighborhood.”

In Fiji, Dr Lal mentioned there was a rising concern over sea-level rise and what this can imply for the small island growing states of the Pacific.

“There may be a lot consciousness as a result of sea-level rise has been skilled within the islands for many years now. You don’t have to inform people who the ocean is rising. They already know this as a result of they’re dropping their land and seashores with each spring tide. What we’re working in the direction of is figuring out higher administration plans for the safety of coastal wetlands and figuring out our subsequent steps in combatting the consequences of local weather change on coastal ecosystems.

“Right here in Australia, individuals are conscious however until you’re dwelling proper subsequent to the seaside or close to the coast it may be troublesome to understand the grave affect sea-level rise is having on coastal ecosystems. Some folks suppose mangroves are a nuisance and wish to eliminate them after which they get hit by a storm occasion and half their properties get washed away. It’s horrible.”

Now that she has lastly completed her PhD, the magnitude of which she mentioned threatened to overwhelm her at occasions, Dr Lal is continuous to give attention to work on this subject. She is a part of the multidisciplinary Blue Financial system analysis group, from UOW’s International Challenges Program, which goals to offer a sustainable enterprise mannequin for communities to maximise the environmental, social, and financial advantages of the ocean and marine ecosystems.

Dr Lal can also be engaged on a venture with the Division of Major Industries and Surroundings (DPIE) Fisheries on a Blue Carbon venture growing a primary go evaluation of blue carbon storage, preservation, era and permanency in NSW estuaries and waterways.

Whereas her PhD has been a tricky street, she has thrived with the assist of her supervisors, her household again dwelling in Fiji, and her associate right here in Australia, a former PhD graduate from UOW.

“I owe so much to my dad and mom for his or her love and assist, particularly my two elder sisters who took such diligent care of our dad and mom throughout troublesome occasions in Fiji,” Dr Lal mentioned. “All of them would have been right here for my commencement. My associate Dr Lukas Bauer suffered the PhD with me and since he has carried out one himself he may perceive my frustrations and was in a position speak sense into me after I wanted it.

“My supervisors, Kerrylee and Colin, have been so essential on this PhD journey. On so many events, I used to be prepared to surrender however they at all times pushed me and helped me to get to the end line. On the day I used to be meant to attend the ceremony, I got here on campus, Kerrylee lent me her commencement robe and we celebrated with just a few different mates with some bubbles, and made it a special day. It was fairly emotional.”