Lauryn Bull

Lauryn Bull is an aspiring marine conservationist and biologist. Her interest has almost always been in biology and biodiversity: she started volunteering her time at the age of 16 as a 'Young Biologist' at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

What she loved most about this experience was sharing the most interesting facts about invertebrates and the animals around the exhibits. Later, with some experience under her belt, she moved on to a more in-depth programme and volunteered her time working behind the scenes in the Turtle Rehabilitation programme, nursing entrapped and injured turtles back to health to be released and monitored for further studies.

Lauryn then enrolled at the University of the Western Cape, where she completed her Undergraduate and Honours degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. For her Master’s project, she was fortunate to get the opportunity to do a two-year internship programme within the Marine department at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Here, she gained fieldwork experience and training, with the added advantage of travelling across the country.

It was during this internship that she realised her true passion: to build on existing research to turn the science into actionable change, enabling policy-makers and decision-makers to make data-driven decisions.

In addition to her love for academia, Lauryn is an outdoor adventurer and enthusiast. She enjoys playing netball and hiking, as well as scuba diving or snorkelling in the rich kelp forests and coral reefs.