Natalie Robinson: Marine Physicist and Antarctic Researcher

Dr Natalie Robinson is a marine physicist with NIWA, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Natalie holds a PhD in Marine Physics and specialises in polar oceanography with most of her work looking at Antarctica. Her work looks at broader issues like how does the polar ice vary from year-to-year to the ‘nitty-gritty’ of what’s happening when a specific ice shelf (a glacier that has grown into the sea) is melting . She is presently focussed on ‘supercooled’ ocean water (water that is colder than its own freezing temperature, yet remains liquid, and so is the coldest naturally-occurring water on the planet) and the ice crystals in this unique flow. Her work has significantly contributed to understanding the oceanic connection between ice shelf and sea ice regimes, and has also furthered our understanding of climate change. Natalie is also passionate about making science accessible to everyone and has participated in numerous outreach and engagement opportunities."The first time I went to Antarctica, I stepped off the plane to breathe in air that was colder than I’d ever breathed before”.