My Fulbright supported Master's degree and research will prepare me to be a scientifically informed policy maker to protect the ocean as a global resource. I plan to pursue a diplomatic role between the U.S. and Australia on issues like ocean governance and conservation.
Julia MacDonald holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she conducted research in disease ecology, volunteered with the New England Aquarium’s penguin colony, and worked as an emergency medical technician. These experiences fostered her strong interest in the ways public policy shapes and informs scientific practice.
With the support of a Fulbright Anne Wexler Scholarship, Julia will undertake a Master’s degree in Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania, specialising in governance and policy. She intends to complete an individual, research-based Master’s thesis examining how marine protection policies and ocean use affect endangered populations in the Southern Ocean.