As long as I can remember, I always loved nature and the outdoors. No matter what was going on in my life, nature always provided a sense of tranquility – away from everyday problems. What I didn’t realize was that it was my love for the outdoors that would guide the rest of my career and take me to places beyond my wildest dreams. From studying ants in the rainforests of Costa Rica, horseshoe crabs in the mangroves of Singapore, birds in the Adirondack mountains of New York, beluga and bowhead whales in the arctic, and finally, to the bottom of the world where I now study Weddell seals and emperor penguins in the Antarctic.

I am interested in identifying physical, biological, and human-induced factors that relate organisms to their environment. Specifically, I am studying the movement and foraging behavior of Weddell seals in relation to oceanography, ocean depth, and other physical factors in order to identify important habitat and foraging locations. Knowing where these areas are will be useful in determining potential impacts of climate change and increased fishing pressure on Weddell seal movement and foraging behavior.

I hope to encourage students to pursue their interests and show them that no matter their background, you can make your dreams come true though hard work, determination, and passion. I look forward to being a part of the SCWIBLES team and working closely with students, teachers, and the other fellows throughout the year.

Goetz Poster

Contact Kim: ktgoetz@ucsc.edu