Author: Nicole Stephanie Gierlinger

I hold a master’s degree in marine biology, ecology, and behavioral biology from the University of Vienna. From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a marine biologist, despite growing up in a landlocked country. I guess my South African roots kept pushing me to make this dream a reality. After graduation, I spent a year in Australia, where I assisted several NGOs with marine educational talks and citizen science programs. During this time, I had the privilege of observing humpback whales on their annual migration along the eastern coast of Australia, as well as participating in seagrass and rockpool monitoring activities.

Although it was hard to leave Australia, I soon secured a position as a marine educator at the Malta National Aquarium. Following this rewarding experience, I was offered a science communication internship at the esteemed Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, where I assisted the Marine Mammal Lab with science communication efforts and enjoyed an unforgettable summer on Oahu.

Today, I am based in Austria, where I teach English as a mother tongue teacher and am launching my business, Dive into the Ocean, to promote ocean literacy in this landlocked country. When I’m not busy with my teaching or business ventures, you'll find me diving in the Red Sea, blogging on my Facebook page, swimming, running, reading, and meditating.