Dr Melinda Waterman is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia, and as a member of the Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiative called Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future.

Melinda examines the secondary metabolites, protective mechanisms and chemical signatures of moss species; helping to unravel how mosses live in extreme environments. In particular, Melinda is interested in how old mosses are and how these miniature plants can act as biological indicators for environmental change – an especially valuable tool in remote locations such as Antarctica.

She has collaborated with international researchers on several multidisciplinary projects, including using old-growth mosses as proxies for past Antarctic climates, assessing vegetation cover and health using remote sensing technologies, developing an Antarctic-wide observing system, working with Antarctica NZ to update management plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, creating virtual reality experiences with the NZ Heritage Trust; and in 2022 she led ‘Antarctic Futures’, an art exhibition and community engagement event.