Peter Puskic Email & Phone Number

Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands

• Organize and lead observational missions in various oceans worldwide (with a focus on subtropical oceanic gyres), as well as coordination of subsequent sample and data analyses• Optimize field data collection protocols, including the analysis of our ocean catch, and Citizen Science survey application • Initiate, mediate and lead collaborative research projects with various stakeholders, including universities, international research institutes, government agencies, NGOs and private organizations, fully utilizing any synergies• Provide supervision, guidance and technical leadership related to scientific aspects of plastic pollution mitigation strategies, including technology design, deployment and monitoring• Proof-reading and fact-checking of media reports, press releases, social media posts, website copies, and technical reports

Australia

. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations and to change the trajectory of our climate and environmental crisis in the next ten years, scientists will need to explore new ways of engaging community, with a focus on fundamentally re-shaping societal behaviors and values. I have been heavily involved in the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences, particularly in my roles as an Australian representative in stakeholder engagement, ocean literacy and diversity inclusion and equity aspects of the decade. From this networking opportunity, I had the opportunity to co-lead a publication along with ten other ECOPs from seven countries, which explored the challenges and priorities for ECOPs in the Ocean Decade

Cowes, Victoria, Australia

Support the broad range of research activities conducted at Phillip Island Nature Parks, including marine mammal and seabird research, marine debris collection, the threatened species portfolio, feral animal management, and high-level management of the research team.

Tasmania, Australia

Conduct yula/Short-tailed Shearwater surveys across tayaritja/the Furneaux Island Group to inform harvest management by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania

Lord Howe Island

Interested in anthropogenic impacts on wildlife and ecosystems, my PhD aimed to detect the impacts of plastic and associated chemical pollution on wildlife using a multidisciplinary approach including animal health, molecular, ecotoxicological, and animal nutrition tools to explore the effects of plastic ingestion in seabirds. The global plastics crisis is inherently a people problem and requires collaboration and collective efforts to solve. Because of this, my research, though grounded in conservation physiology, is conducted in an interdisciplinary manner, and works with vets, wildlife carers and managers, and local knowledge holders (including seabird harvesters) to co-produce data.• Collected histology samples from deceased shearwaters and microbial swabs of the gastrointestinal system.• Capture, handling and banding of Shearwater fledgelings.• Communicate and engage with media and journalism teams.

• Intro to Marine and Antarctic Studies 2022• Demonstrator, Backyard Biodiversity 2020• Demonstrator, Biology of Animals, One Ocean 2019• Guest Lecturer, Topics in Marine Conservation 2018• Demonstrator, Aquatic Biology A & B, Oceanography 2018

Melbourne, Australia

• Deliver a wide range of educational experiences to school students and the wider community with a focus on local plants, fungi and animals. I have educated students from kindergarten level of education up to VCE, TAFE and University level of study. These programs match the state school curriculum outcomes.• Actively participate in training and evaluations to improve experiences.• Participate in flora and fauna censuses and identification. • Set up, pack up and maintenance of equipment.• Identification of terrestrial and aquatic plants, fungi, vertebrates and invertebrates. • In late 2016 I joined the sanctuary services team researching the sanctuary's rich history to create signage and interactive media display to celebrate La Trobe Universities 50th Anniversary.

Exmouth, Wa

• Monitored large section of beaches in Exmouth WA collecting valuable data on turtle nesting. • Regular data collection and entry.• Recorded and identified invasive species tracks.• Gathered data accurately following government guidelines.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Marine Biology

Activities and Societies: IMAS student representative Equity and Diveristy representative

Honours, Marine And Antarctic Studies

Honours project investigating the sublethal impacts of plastic ingestion in two species of Australian Shearwater, using GC-MS analysis.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Zoology & Archaeology

Activities and Societies: Mountaineering Team, Dive team and Animal Vet & Zoology Society. I was a guest writer for the student magazine.