Natalia, please introduce yourself.
My name is Natalia Shepel. I'm working for the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine as an Oceanographer. My usual job routine is to analyze CTD data from the station and transects close to the Vernadsky station to better understand the nature of currents, water properties, and how it's affected by climate change
Also, I'm working not only with data from the station, but planning an oceanographic survey from the RV Noosfera, which NASC plans to restart from the upcoming Antarctic season, from the equipment check and upgrade to the design of the future research
Tell us about your professional and academic career before becoming part of the OCEAN ICE community.
I have my Masters from the University of Southampton and Odesa State Enviromental University. I used to work for OceanInfinity for the Subsea Data Innovation AI products. In Ukraine most of my projects are connected with the underwater inspection for humanitarian demining for UN and Ministry of Economy.
What do you do within OCEAN ICE?
As a part of the OCEAN ICE project for the WP10, we have launched 6 floats at the Bransfield Strait, similar to the previous ones we had in the project, where my colleagues have tested virtual mooring mode in the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea. We have done it for the first time in this area and for the first time in Ukraine! Currently, I'm working on the data analysis for defining anomalies, dynamic processes (as internal tides), and potentially heat transport. This will help us to determine next steps, and I hope more floats and moorings in the future!
What have you enjoyed about OCEAN ICE so far?
International collaboration, learning and diverse expertise from colleagues.
Tell us about a skill or trait unique to you that you would like to share?
I'm a freediver, who can make 43 m depth!
Stay tuned on our social media channels (X, Mastodon, LinkedIn and Bluesky) for more of the series of OCEAN ICE 'Researcher in the Spotlight' articles.