Katie Hearther

Your name and pronouns:
Katie Hearther (she/her)

Senior thesis title and brief description:
Impacts of seawater properties on chlorophyll a concentrations in the dynamic Benguela and Agulhas Current systems Description: Examining the influences of oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, temperature, and salinity on production off the coast of South Africa

What was your best memory from the school of Oceanography?
The most memorable event was certainly the senior thesis cruise with our missed flights, lost baggage, a foul-weather port closure...but also because of the incredible Thompson crew, fin whales, southern hemisphere constellations, and camaraderie with my fellow seniors! I think what I will treasure most is my interactions with the incredible faculty and staff, and my late-night, caffeine-fueled study sessions with my peers where we would discuss all the amazing topics we learn in this department. I wouldn't be here without them!

What was your favorite oceanography class and why?
OCEAN 310- Evan's marine geology and geochemistry class! Learning about hydrothermal vents, seafloor spreading, and how marine life influences seawater composition and vice versa opened up a whole dimension of marine science that I didn't even know existed. Plus Theresa, my TA, is a geology goddess.

What has been your go to way to connect to your classmates remotely?
It varies by day because I try to be fully awake, sitting at my kitchen table with coffee but sometimes I end up wrapped in my blankets in bed with a hat to cover up the fact that I just woke up...

Favorite non-ocean body of water?
Greenland Ice Sheet...the water can be frozen right?