NORA VON XYLANDER

Nora is a Biodiversity Specialist and Sustainability Scientist at Tunley whilst currently conducting a PhD, at the University of St. Andrews, on ‘understanding the role of lipids on coral bio-mineralization and the effects of future climate change’. To address her PhD research project, she has been conducting a wide range of experimental work, cultured coral under different temperatures, and has performed a fieldwork experiment at the CRIOBE research station in Moorea, French Polynesia. Overall, the aim of this research is to elucidate the effects of different lipid biomolecules on how corals build their CaCO₃ skeletons and explore the resistance and resilience of coral to future climate change scenarios.

Before working on this PhD project, Nora worked as a Project Leader for two Coral Restoration Projects run by the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS). On top of this, she graduated in 2017 with a BSc in Biochemistry from King’s College London, and with a MSc in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea) in 2019. All of which have allowed her to pursue her interest in understanding how coral reefs may withstand the drastic future predictions of our changing climate.

Having grown up in both Cambodia and Switzerland, Nora has had the privilege of being exposed to our planet’s beautifully varied Nature. She hopes to use the knowledge gained throughout her research and field experience to help preserve our Oceans, being key to regulating our Planet’s climate, and she is driven to help tackle the pressing climate challenges as a carbon reduction/sustainability scientist.

In her spare time Nora enjoys travelling, scuba diving, soap making, photography, and all things revolving around being in nature (e.g. hiking and camping).