A legacy gift in honour of Isidore and Winifred Marie Wartski continues to help ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ students pursue life-changing research opportunities across the globe. Through the Wartski Overseas Travel Award, Abbie Taylor, an MScRes student in the School of Ocean Sciences, received funding to take her research to one of the world’s leading scientific institutions.
Abbie travelled to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, home to one of the most significant collections of Pacific marine life. Her research focuses on the taxonomy of Eunicidae, a family of marine worms found in coral reef ecosystems. In the Central Pacific, species identification remains challenging due to limited primary research, meaning scientists often rely on guides based on species originally described in Europe and Asia.
During her visit, Abbie examined both historic and recently collected specimens, comparing them with material from Palmyra Atoll. This work is helping to refine species identifications and could contribute to the discovery of species new to science. She also gained access to archival material and worked alongside experienced museum specialists, developing insights that extend beyond published literature. The experience provided valuable understanding of how world-leading research collections operate, knowledge she hopes to bring back to ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ.
Opportunities like this are made possible through the generosity of donors who choose to leave a legacy gift. Their support enables students to access exceptional facilities, build international connections, and contribute to globally significant research.
Abbie shared:
The Wartski Overseas Travel Award enabled me to work directly with one of the world’s most significant collections of Pacific marine worms at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Access to material that would otherwise have been unavailable has greatly strengthened my MScRes research and may contribute to the discovery of species new to science.
Working alongside experienced museum researchers and collections staff also provided invaluable insight into a future career in taxonomy and biodiversity science. I am extremely grateful for the support that made this opportunity possible
