Diving headfirst into valuable research and fieldwork experience at Trent's renowned Xenopoulos Aquatic Ecology Lab, third-year Biology student Miracle Denga (Traill College), is investigating why lakes are losing their oxygen.
Working on her honours thesis, Miracle is researching the factors influencing changes in oxygen levels and how this loss affects lake productivity.
"Lakes around the world are losing their oxygen. This is partly because of climate change and increased temperatures, but temperatures aren't changing yet in the deepest parts of the lake, though we're still seeing a trend of decreasing oxygen," Miracle said.
Making a splash internationally
Miracle recently presented her work to the International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area and received a student award to share her research with more than 25,000 attendees at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting.
Reflecting on the significance of these opportunities, Miracle saw them as a chance to showcase her research and develop professionally through knowledge sharing and networking.
"Presenting at these conferences exposes me to a large network of people. It helps me see what others are doing, often in areas I haven't even considered yet," she said.
A hands-on approach to research
During the last two summers, Miracle has also worked alongside graduate students doing fieldwork. She gained invaluable insights and inspiration from this experience, which she will use in her future endeavours.
"Being a research assistant in a remote field location was incredibly immersive," she said. "It was hands-on, and the experience excited me about research and freshwater ecology and opened my eyes to the many opportunities out there."
"Working in Dr. Maggie Xenopoulos's lab gave me a taste of the science and research world, and I realized I could see myself pursuing a career in this field. I am constantly learning something new, which I really appreciate," Miracle said.
