Bursaries

RĀWINIA WIKAIRA, AOTEAROA / NEW ZEALAND

Bursary Recipient on South Pacific from Auckland to Bay of Islands

Rāwinia Wikaira is of Māori descent, with whakapapa (ancestry) to the tribes Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi, and Muriwhenua. She is a recent graduate from University of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science majoring in Māori Studies and Ecology. Her work interests sit at the intersection of environmental science, Indigenous knowledge, and community engagement. She has aspirations to work for her tribes and produce research that is informed by Indigenous and tribe-specific knowledge systems. She has experience in, and enjoys working at, a grassroots level with whānau Māori and small communities to tackle local ecological issues. Every summer, Rāwinia spends time at her papakāinga (ancestral coastal home) at Pākiri Beach (within the tribal territory of Ngāti Wai), where her love for nature first grew and continues to be fostered. Outside of work, you will find Rāwinia hiking, diving, and spending time in the awa (water).

TAVAKE PACOMIO, CHILE

Bursary Recipient on Leg Eight from Easter Island to Tahiti , provided by Parley for the Oceans. 

Tavake is a surfer raised in the remote island of Rapa Nui. Four years ago, she quit her job (as a Kinesiologist in the local Hospital) and started working full time for the ocean in marine conservation in a local community NGO Te Mau O Te Vaikava O Rapa Nui (the richness of the ocean of Rapa Nui) where she had the chance to learn more about the fragility of the ocean, participate in national an international congresses, workshops, and programs. Now, she is the vice-president of Te Mau, working on a program to intercept marine debris in partnership with Parley and their network of collaborators.

DANIELA RUALES, ECUADOR

Bursary Recipient on Leg Six from Panama to Galapagos with Travel Edge, provided by an anonymous donor. 

Daniela Alarcon Ruales is a marine biologist  has spent the last six years working with the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) as a plastic researcher in the San Cristobal Island.

KIRANA NAGUSTINA, INDONESIA

Bursary Recipient on Leg One from Plymouth to Azores with Rothy’s, supported by the International Maritime Organization.

Kirana has a scientific background in Marine Science which has given her full understanding of Indonesia’s potential for leading the world in environmental issues. She has worked in marine conservation for nearly seven years and just finished her postgraduate program at University College London on Environment, Politics and Society and researched on “Ocean Plastic, Politics of Scale and Indonesia’s National Plan of Action.”

LAURA LEIVA, HONDURAS

Bursary Recipient on Leg Two of North Pacific 2018, supported by our North Pacific partners and sponsors. 

Growing up in Honduras, Laura’s passion from a young age was the constant exploration of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Throughout the years, Laura witnessed the ongoing deterioration of this beautiful but fragile ecosystem due to irresponsible fishing and plastic pollution, and pledged to be part of the solution by becoming a biologist. Her area of expertise is marine benthic communities and is interested in exploring how nano plastics and micro plastics bioaccumulate, and how toxics biomagnify across the marine food web.

BIMADOSHKA PUCAN, PUCAN

Bursary Recipient on Leg Two of North Pacific 2018, supported by our North Pacific partners and sponsors. 

Bimadoshka is Saugeen Anishinaabe and is a recent PhD graduate in Anthropology. She is a mother to three sons, based in Ontario and is very active within her indigenous community. She is particularly concerned about environmental issues impacting Lake Huron and the rapid changes to the water quality in recent years. By joining eXXpedition North Pacific, Bimadoshka welcomed the opportunity to bond with other like-minded women. As she had never been to British Columbia, she believes that the educational and spiritual experiences on the voyage were countless.