Roxanne Karimi and Maureen Murphy

Which seafood should I choose?

Date: June 18th  2016

We all love fish but are they really safe to eat? Meet with local scientists and learn the basic science behind how mercury gets into fish, and the food chain, how this relates to sustainability, and what you should know when you choose fish to eat.

Photo credit: time.com

 

 

Interviewing Roxanne and Maureen

 

Where did you go to school?

University of Pennsylvania (BA) State University of NY at Albany (BA)

Dartmouth College (PhD) St. John’s University School of Law (JD)

 

What is your area of research?

Ecology and Environmental Health

 

Who or what inspired you to become involved in marine science?

My inspiration comes from the link between the marine environment and human health.

 

What qualities do you think are important in order to become a scientist?

Boundless curiosity and perseverance.

 

Why is your research topic important?

My research examines how pollutants like mercury move through the environment, get into fish, and people who eat fish. This research can help understand the health risks and identify ways to reduce pollutant levels in fish, and fish consumers.

 

What will you be bringing with you to the “meet with an Oceanographer” day?

We will bring information to display about how mercury gets into fish, and seafood consumption guides that we can distribute to visitors.   We will also bring our film “Choosing Wisely – Recognizing and Preventing Overexposure to Mercury in Fish” which can be shown on a laptop or projected onto a screen for interested visitors.

 

What is the best advice you have for people interested in becoming involved in your field of research or in marine sciences?

Pick a topic or a problem in the marine environment that interests you, and find related volunteer or internship opportunities that will give you hands-on experience.

 

What is your favorite ocean organism?

If I had to pick one, I would pick copepods. These are amazing, small animals known as zooplankton that are important food for fish all over the world.

 

Roxanne-show2

Wonderful talk of Roxanne and Maureen at Long Island Aquarium, June 18th.

 

Want to learn more about Roxanne’s research? Visit her website

http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/people/staff/roxanne-karimi/