Francesca Mills

Like many kiwi kids, Francesca grew up in and out of the water and, over time, she gained an appreciation for freshwater environments.

“Freshwater is an important resource that is growing in global environments. My aim is to help preserve the natural resources that New Zealand has, without allowing further depletion of quality due to changes in climate, rainfall patterns or land use.

“Cyanobacteria and freshwater environments are my passions – there’s always something new to learn, and knowledge can be applied to a range of landscapes.”

Francesca has taken part in field work in Wairarapa, Nelson, Tongariro National Park, Mt Cook, Arthurs Pass, Christchurch and Kaikoura as well as in many more local areas, such as Zealandia. She has travelled to China to do lab and field work in another university and has had the opportunity to collaborate with professionals at NIWA, GNS Science and the Antarctic Research Centre. “All these experiences have been fantastic in helping me refine both my skillset and my career path.

“Environmental science is a growing field that combines my interests in biology and earth science and will allow me to pursue a career in environmental management. I am looking forward to seeing this field grow both nationally and globally.”