About Gesine In high school, my biggest dream was to become a marine biologist. I really started my scientific career in Rostock, Germany, where I majored not in marine biology but in botany and finished with the title of Diploma biologist, which is roughly the equivalent to a Master's degree. The shift from marine to plant studies was relatively easy since in my experience marine biology consisted mostly of sieving sand and botany was all about pretty plants, amazing colours and visiting the greatest places. I am definitely a field biologist and try to take every opportunity to work outdoors - so far, I have been in South Africa, Namibia, Russia, Poland, the US, Chile and Argentina - all in the name of science! Since 2007, I have been working on my PhD at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. I am researching the evolution of hygrochastic fruit dehiscence in alpine cushion plants. To translate that from science talk into english - I am looking at plants that disperse their seeds with the aid of rain by opening their capsules under the influence of moisture and close them when dry. I am really enjoying my work, especially the field work component because I get to see the most amazing places that New Zealand has to offer and it is quite rewarding to find a tiny grey plant after a six hour hike up a 1800m mountain! I will probably finish my PhD in February next year and then start looking for a post doc wish will hopefully be just as exciting as my current work.

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