Staff Members | Kaimahi

Katja Schweikert came to Dunedin in 2001 after the completion of her master’s thesis, investigating the relationship of eco-physiological aspects and chemo-physical characteristics of alginate extracts in Germany and South Africa. Besides finishing off her PhD on cellular aspects of stress physiology of Porphyra species, she works part-time at the Portobello Aquarium as an interpreter and educator.
At CSAFE, she is involved in the Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai project, developing a marine Cultural Health Index (CHI) within the Ngai Tahu research framework. The model for a marine CHI will help Tangata Whenua to restore and protect their coastal environments already under Maori management (Taiapure and Mataitai), applying traditional Maori means. In the long term this will lead to sustainable management of Taiapure / Mataitai and sustainable harvest of kai moana.