Mekhala Gangabadage studied Sea and Society - now she is surveying the seafloor
Marine scientist Mekhala Gangabadage realised she needed a more interdisciplinary education, so she chose to study the Sea and Society Master's programme. She now works as a remote survey operator at Ocean Infinity, surveying seafloor ecosystems.
What do you work with?
"I work at Ocean Infinity as a remote survey operator. My main task is to ensure the continuous acquisition of quality data from the seafloor."
What do you do on a typical day?
"I monitor screens that show the seafloor in real-time through cameras connected to the survey equipment. A major part of my job involves communicating with the vessel to navigate it through the survey plan or along the survey lines. I also handle radio communication with the ROV operator team and onboard technicians."
What is the most fun part of your job?
"I find it exciting to see the seafloor in real-time. Visual inspections give me access to a whole new world. There are many funny adaptations of the underwater species that you can't see until you get closer, like in flat fish and anglerfish. I get thrilled by spotting the thriving ecosystems around human-made underwater structures like pipelines and wind farm bases, as well as seafloor topography, natural ecosystems with soft corals, hard corals, and even plastic trash. But the latter is not exciting to see."
How long have you known that you wanted to work with the ocean?
"As a child growing up in Sri Lanka, an island nation, I was always excited to go to the sea. This led me to study further in ocean science and pursue a career in this field. I completed my BSc in Fisheries and Marine Sciences with a specialization in Oceanography and Marine Geology. "
How did you get the job?
"After graduation, I saw this position on LinkedIn. I applied and during the interview, I learned about the green concept of surveying with lean crew vessels, which intrigued me. I also heard about Ocean Infinity from friends in my master's programme. This is a new field for me, and I can see myself staying here for some time as this is an exciting industry. This is my first office job, and the work-life balance is good. I can turn off my work computer, go home, and switch off. That is something I never experienced in my research career."
What from the programme has been most useful in your work?
"Just before the master's, I worked on Environmental Impact Assessment and coastal development projects and realized the need for education in interdisciplinary sciences and social sciences, for me, personally. As this is an interdisciplinary programme, you will be exposed to a wide range of jobs and opportunities. Don't think about narrowing it down. The master's programme Sea and Society provided me with very updated and wonderful insights into maritime and coastal social dynamics, in Sweden and on a global scale."
Do you have any tips for new students on the Sea and Society programme?
"Many people said I should specialise in my master, but instead, I broadened my focus. This programme can expand your opportunities in different sectors in marine and environmental science that you might never have thought about."
"And if you're coming from outside Scandinavia, I highly recommend exploring the cultural differences through an internship during your master’s programme or by starting your career here afterward. It will be a valuable and enriching experience. I noticed clear differences in work culture and social norms as the Swedish workplace tends to be more informal and equal, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance and open communication. "
