Abi first joined Bark EUROPA as a student researcher from Bangor University and never quite left the ship behind. Her fascination with the ocean and her talent for turning data into stories have made her a beloved member of the crew.
As part of EUROPA’s research programme, Abi runs projects that invite sailors and trainees to take part in real science, from plankton trawls and water sampling to bird surveys for the eBird database. She has a special gift for getting everyone involved, whether through spontaneous “Pass the Pigs” tournaments on deck or early-morning seabird spotting sessions.
Abi is especially passionate about seabirds and ocean plastics. She’s currently completing a Masters by Research in surface-ocean microplastics, using samples she collected onboard EUROPA during previous voyages from Cape Town to Montevideo and Tahiti to New Zealand.
Since 2024 she has also joined the Antarctic guide team, sharing her enthusiasm for marine life and the polar environment during Antarctic expeditions. Her calm curiosity, sense of wonder, and love for the sea inspire everyone around her to look a little closer, and care a little more, for the world we sail through.
