Education & Experience | Miranda Spencer Altice

M.S.A. Australian Institute of Marine Science

Education

2021-2024

Southern Cross University

Lismore & Coffs Harbour, Australia

MSc by research in environmental science and management with an emphasis on marine ecology. Received an HDR scholarship in 2022 and interned at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, learning coral husbandry and aquaculture. Genotyping and data analysis were between the National Marine Science Centre and Lismore (plant science) campuses.

2015-2016

Clemson University Extension

Clemson, South Carolina, USA

Received a certificate as a Master Naturalist with a focus on strengthening science communication, teaching citizen science skills, and primary - high school naturalist education. Courses covered included fieldwork techniques, science project management, taxonomy and classification and some tracking skills.

2006-2007

Palm Beach State College

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Certificate in teaching Montessori pre-primary ages. Invited and succeeded in continuing to lower and upper elementary Montessori education, with a curriculum focus on cosmology and life sciences.

2002-2004

Jacksonville University

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Double undergraduate degree in communications/journalism and marine biology with focuses on science communications, ichthyology, and marine taxonomy. Completed the final months in Ormskirk, England, with the communications department creating a travel documentary on rural British towns.

1999-2001

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

Double associate's degree in communications/journalism and marine biology. Work-study as a biology and microbiology lab assistant. Took part in fieldwork at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute in Big Pine Key, Florida.

M.S.A. Australian Institute of Marine Science

M.S.A. Lizard Island Research Station

Work Experience Highlights

Environmental Consultant - Biodiversity and GIS Specialist

Collaborate with local and government agencies to mitigate impacts on threatened species and ecological communities. Projects include dredging assessments, coastal management initiatives, and stakeholder engagement to support sustainable environmental outcomes. Serve as the company’s GIS mapping specialist, enhancing geographic data visualisation and providing spatial analysis to inform critical decision-making.

Research Technician

Worked independently and with a team at the Australian Institute of marine Science during work-study internships for coral spawning events funded by the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program at the world-renowned SeaSim facility. Collected and reared a variety of coral larvae species, following rigorous protocols to supply developed larvae to numerous research projects. Created and followed methodologies in coral husbandry, including aquaculture techniques and data collection. Followed up with data analysis via RStudio and report writing.

Research Officer

Assisted with the species and overall update of an echinoderm fisheries guidebook funded by the FAO United Nations. Casual research assistant at the National Marine Science Centre, SCU, collecting information on new species & characteristics of sea cucumbers. Communicating with global echinoderm scientists on novel studies and research imaging for the publication.

Project Coordinator and Grant Writer

Coordinated projects for a busy wildlife organisation while also writing grant applications. Within two years, had secured over $200K in grant funding for a start-up, non-profit while monitoring and reporting the grant projects. Projects included a koala enclosure extension, bush rehabilitation, sea turtle rehabilitation enclosures, wildlife veterinary equipment and sustainable overnight stay for wildlife veterinarians. Other jobs included assisting the CEO, ensuring the operational needs were met and creating the volunteer program.

Science and Education Writer

Writing high-quality educational content for professionals, blogs, and magazines since 2002. The aim is to translate challenging topics into informative and digestible articles for the general public. Some outlets include the Sierra Club, Earth Island Journal, and Family Education.

Icthyology Laboratory Assistant

Assisted in the daily routines of preparing for university-level ichthyology and marine biology lab courses. Classified, catalogued and prepared preservation jars for marine specimens in the taxonomy warehouse. Designed and curated a small zoological museum in the zoology department for biology students.

Science Teacher & Enrichment Tutor (13 years)

Developed engaging science lessons and curricula for elementary (primary) and high school students in different educational philosophies. Observed for creative science teaching techniques, which were later published in an academic education journal. Teacher representative and committee member on the board of directors for four years. Managed projects for community outreach on citizen science and science education.

Skills & Achievements

Coral husbandry and aquaculture
RStudio and data analysis proficiency with ongoing courses
GIS proficiency (QGIS)
Remote Pilote License (RePL) - drone certification
Excel & Google Sheets proficiency
ImageJ proficiency (java-based image processing program)
Published writer specialising in science since 2002
First Aid & CPR certified
Master Naturalist (Lowcountry, SC, USA) certified
Coral tissue blast/symbiont extraction (Lizard Island)
Advanced PADI Diver since 1998
Horseshoe crab husbandry for schools (USA) certified
Advanced social media and digital media management certified
Secured over $450K in grants for wildlife conservation projects
Two years of successful coral spawning collections
American Australian Association Research Scholarship Recipient 2022
Research featured in Queensland Museum's exhibit "A Century of Australian Coral Reef Science" 2023
Science educator for over 12 years
Public speaking and representing at conferences