Marsha Wysote

Marsha Wysote believes in the work she is doing. For the past two summers, the 21 year-old Micmac from BlancSablon, Quebec has been diligently studying ocean algae.

Working in Montreal under the supervision of her McGill University professor, she has been busy in the lab measuring phytoplankton (algae) growth in media of varying trace metal concentration. Marsha explains,

"Very simply, we artificially recreate samples of ocean water which we previously analysed. Then, we add or take away trace metals to see how it affects the algae's growth."

Looking at trace metals in plant life is important because high levels can be toxic. Careful measurement plays a vital role in the study.

"We start with 20 litres of sea water that was created using a recipe which mimics natural ocean water. If we are studying the effect of cadmium (a metallic element) on algae, we make several batches of synthetic ocean water with varying amounts of cadmium. By observing the growth rate of the algae, we'd be able to tell the effects of varying degrees of cadmium."

In the bigger picture, cadmium can leak into water from pipes and solder or may enter water from chemical waste disposal sites. Marsha adds, "The whole reason these studies are important is because algae is at the low end of the food chain and all water life depends on it as a food source. Algae is the food source for zooplankton (tiny aquatic animals), which in turn is the food source for fish, and way at the other end of the food chain are mammals, including humans, who eat the fish." Contamination in the food chain affects the quality and safety of the foods we eat. If contaminants build up in a body (animal or human) over time, they have the potential to have severe health effects including cancer, birth defects and diseases of the central nervous system.

Marsha is entering her 3rd year at McGill University and is working towards a Bachelor's degree in Science, majoring in Biology. She is considering graduating with a minor in Neuroscience. She chose Biology because "Biology is a general field that has a broad scale. It is a good basis to do further studies." Her interest in science was sparked by a great teacher in CEGEP; "Her enthusiasm was contagious and I got hooked." Marsha aspires to do research in neuroscience because it is devoted to the understanding of the nervous system. As well as studying the brain at many levels, neuroscientists investigate the functioning of the nervous system of many different animals, from simple invertebrates, such as jellyfish, to humans. She firmly believes that the work she is doing is beneficial for society. Sheexplains, "Algae is so crucial to the survival of other life forms. Most of what I learned in marine biology is global and can be applied to any water system in the world."