Javier Rabellino

Home country: Uruguay

University enrolled: Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay)

Area: Biological Oceanography

Instrument: Multinet - Multiple Plankton Sampler

Science theme: Foraminifera and what they tell us about the past

About myself: I am from Uruguay (South America), I have graduated from the Bachelor in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Oceanography at the Universidad de la República (Uruguay) and I am currently enrolled in the Master in Geosciences (Universidad de la República-PEDECIBA). In my master thesis I explored the role of the Subtropical Shelf Front in the transport of ichthyoplankton along the shelf ecosystem over the Southwest Atlantic. The thesis is structured into two main modules: the physics module, that involved the implementation of the ROMS regional ocean model to the region of interest; and the biological module designed to use the simulated oceanographic fields to track particles (ichthyoplankton) using a lagrangian individual based model.

My reason for being interested in the Meteor training course is because it is a one-time opportunity to have the experience of being in a frontline research vessel, in contact with the latest technology and highly specialized scientists in oceanographic issues in general, but particularly in the South Atlantic Ocean. The opportunity to cross the South Atlantic Ocean Basin taking samples in a holistic manner, using modern oceanographic instruments and in contact with scientists with extensive experience is very difficult to access for Uruguayan students and so, it will be a unique opportunity.

My interest in the oceans is mainly in how physics interact with biology. Particularly how planktonic organisms manage to live in such a dynamic environment and how recruitment in fish populations works.