Interview: "A significant challenge is the need for further culturing of foraminifera"

In this interview, PhD researcher Adele Westgård discusses her work on Arctic oceanography, climate change, and the role of foraminifera in understanding historical and future environmental shifts.

Can you describe your research focus and its significance?

I am a PhD candidate specializing in paleoceanography, marine ecology, and geochemistry, with a focus on the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas. In my research, I develop methods to study historical climate changes, particularly how ocean and environmental interactions are influenced by warming climates. By refining existing tools like the magnesium-temperature relationship in foraminifera, we may improve our understanding of ocean circulation and ice-ocean interactions under changing conditions. My work bridges biology and geochemistry; studying both environmental influence on foraminifera-ecology and how the geochemistry of their shells is influenced by the environment they grow in.

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Can your method be applied to other regions, such as Antarctica?

In the polar oceans, there's primarily one species of planktic foraminifera, which exists in both the Arctic and Antarctic areas. While there are differences in its genotype, the same methods are still applicable and can be used widely in the community. 

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Have you participated in research cruises during your PhD?

Yes, I've been on four cruises so far in the PhD. The longest cruise was a five-week cruise in 2023 in the Nordic Seas and along Greenland coast with the RV Celtic Explorer. 

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How does your work align with the iC3 project?

The iC3 project includes past climates, and my work fits into this by developing tools to reconstruct past environments. Understanding these environments is important for understanding ongoing and future climate change and its impacts. 

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What inspired your career in science?

I've always been interested in natural sciences, growing up spending much time in the outdoors and curious about how things work. I found geoscience exciting, learning how the Earth and climate works and interacts over time.

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What challenges do you face in your research?

A significant challenge is the need for further culturing of foraminifera, which is resource-intensive, requiring sea expeditions to collect specimens and close laboratory monitoring. 

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How do you see the future of your field?

The field is rapidly evolving with advancements in technology. High magnification microscopes and mass spectrometry allow for better analysis of foraminifera growth and shell chemistry. These tools will improve our understanding of environmental impacts and proxy development.

Picture: Adele and Freya Sykes during a cruise.

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Where do you see yourself after your PhD?

I enjoy my research and would like to keep working on similar topics, ideally staying in the field.

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What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy being outdoors, whether it's skiing, climbing, hiking, or just the generic “friluftsliv”.

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Adele Westgård is an iC3 affiliated PhD student working at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) in Tromsø, the capital of the Arctic. To find out more about her work, please check out her list of publications, or contact her by email.