Lisa Hübner

After completing my Bachelor's in Zoology in Liverpool, UK, I felt a strong desire to deepen my knowledge in marine biology. Since September 2021, I have been pursuing a research master's degree in marine biology at the University of Groningen, Netherlands.

My previous research project took me to Curaçao, where I encountered a similar conservation challenge to the one in Peru: the dwindling populations of sharks and rays around the island. Collaborating closely with local fishers, we harnessed their invaluable knowledge to reconstruct the historical and current species richness of sharks. Our findings revealed a significant decline since 1960.

Beyond their knowledge, what struck me the most was the willingness of local fishers to share their struggles, perspectives and suggestions to current management practices. We initiated dialogues with government officials and hope to foster a stronger connection and more trust between community, researchers and managers in the future. This work is still ongoing and in the process of being published.

The skills I honed during my previous project have equipped me immensely for my upcoming work in Peru. Generating data that goes beyond the usual realm of a biological researcher will support my academic ambition in pursuing a career in interdisciplinary conservation research. My passion to bridge gaps between community and decision makers motivates me to ensure our project's output will have a positive impact for the scientific community, policy makers and locals - both human and non-human.

October 2023