Marcelina Lekawska

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MARCELINA LEKAWSKA

As the SCAMP Innovation in Restoration Project Officer at the Solway Firth Partnership I am developing opportunities for monitoring and restoration of native oyster reefs, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes across the Dumfries & Galloway coastline. I am passionate about advancing evidence-based marine restoration through the application of spatial mapping, historical data and environmental monitoring to identify priority restoration sites and to strengthen protection of existing habitats. I work to develop collaborative approaches to marine science that bring together various stakeholders to drive conservation.I have extensive experience in marine surveying and fieldwork, having worked across the UK and internationally. A qualified scientific diver, I’ve contributed to research in both cold-water and tropical environments, operating under HSE Diving at Work regulations. I hold an MSc in Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment from Heriot-Watt University and a BSc (Hons) in Biology & Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews. These studies shaped my interdisciplinary approach to marine science, combining surveying and statistical analysis with critical policy analysis and social science methods.From June 2023 – 2024 I completed an international research project as an Associate Scholar for the University of St Andrews, building capacity for data collection and climate-change adaptation within coastal and marine ecosystems across Scotland, Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, Argentina and Honduras (https://lekawskamar.wixsite.com/changing-oceans).I am a keen and adaptable learner; I can quickly pick up new concepts and approach challenges from multiple perspectives.