My name is Cara, and I research the possible environmental impacts of the deep-sea mining industry using analog laboratory experiments. 

We are currently witnessing the birth of a new extractive industry with the potential to enact large-scale harm on the pristine seafloor environment. As it stands, we have extremely limited knowledge about either the physical or chemical changes that this industry will create, and even less information about how these deep seafloor ecosystems function, or even what lives there.

My research aims to address some of these key knowledge gaps that are stopping accurate environmental assessments of commercial mining,  and remove some of the uncertainty that is delaying the formation of effective regulations and management for this industry.