About

Scientist/Researcher/Trainer/Educator ,
National University of Samoa

Summary

Consultancy: Conducted consultancy on water quality testing and training for sanitation and water assessment technicians in Samoa. Currently part of team member drafting Samoa's GEF-SGP country programme strategy for its 6th Operational Programme. Drafted methodology for Samoa's second greenhouse inventory. Drafted primary science curriculum for Samoa. Lessons learnt from completed consultancies have been applied to research and teaching to a student community and applied to the assessment of community climate change resilience and conservation projects. Work experience: Researcher on water quality assessment using conventional methods; currently trialing the use of DNA technology for water assessment. Background in ocean acidification. Project member for EU-funded EDULINK Project on Education for Sustainable Development and Pace-Net Plus Project on Health, Food security, marine and maritime and inland water research, Climate change. Experience in budgetary and report writing

Qualifications and credentials
Doctor of Philosophy, 2011-2014, Completed, University of Otago
Master of Science, 2006-2007, Completed, University of Otago
Diploma of Education, 1989, Completed, Flinders University of South Australia
Bachelor of Science, 1985-1988, Completed, Flinders University of South Australia
English, Excellent, Excellent, Excellent, Excellent
Samoan, Excellent, Excellent, Excellent, Excellent
Work experience
Proposal writing/Report writing
Community trainer specialist
Capacity building specialist
Water quality testing specialist
National University of Samoa, Senior Lecturer (Environmental Science), Researcher, Acting Dean of Science Faculty, Samoa, Samoa, Technical Advisor/Researcher, Profiling the chemical and microbiological composition of two rivers on Upolu Island, Samoa., •Literature search to identify, review and critique published research on the quality of stream or river waters in Samoa, Pacific and other SIDS count, Samoa, Researcher/Technical Advisor, Pesticide assessment of the Loimata o Apaula river catchment on Upolu Island, Samoa., Assessing the contamination of a water catchment which feed a reticulated system by pesticides. Work involves budgeting, collection of water samples, , Samoa, Researcher/Technical Advisor, The use of DNA Technology and sequencing to assess the quality of Samoan water, A project conducted in collaboration with Massey University, New Zealand to trial the use of DNA technology as a method for water quality assessment.
SGP 6th Operational Phase Country Programme Strategy (CPS) Development Process, UNDP, Technical Advisor/Report Co-author, Samoa, 1. First Draft report on CPS 2. A report with i) the baseline analysis,ii) the elaboration of the SGP strategy within the landscape and iii) the mod
Water Quality Testing Specialist, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) & Ministry of Health (MoH), Water quality Testing Specialist, Samoa, (i) Training materials and Training program delivered for water/sanitation technicians from Ministry of Health, MNRE (iii) Procedures and schedule for
Samoa's Second Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Technical Advisor/Report Co-author, Samoa, A methodology for the implementation of Samoa's second GHG inventory
Education Strengthening Programme, Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Curriculum Writer, Samoa, National Curriculum for primary school science
Publications
Development of a pH-stat method to measure the dissolution kinetics of biological carbonates, University of Otago, Unpublished Ph|D Thesis
Distribution of Heavy Metals in Sediments at the Commercial and Fishing Ports in Samoa, International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
The Microbiological Survey of Potential Water Borne Pathogens in Fresh Water Springs of the Selected Community Located in the Upolu Island, Samoa., International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
Chemical Composition of Rainwater collected in Samoa, 2006, Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Otago