Staff

FIELD BIOLOGIST

Nesime Askin

Director / Senior Scientist / Veterinarian

Dr. Carin Wittnich

STAFF

Nesime Askin is an animal loving individual who became devoted to OERS as a volunteer to share her passion for its cause and mandates. By applying the research skills she has gained from her experience as a graduate student, to the handy-dandy tasks as an artist, Nesime has been able to stretch her “flippers” to great lengths for OERS. She believes humans should be held responsible in protecting the environment and the livelihood of all the creatures living in it.

Nesime aspires to see OERS become a leader in the research, education and protection of Canadian marine mammal species for future generations. Nesime was awarded the 2002 Sherman Award and The Government of Ontario 2003 Volunteer Service Award as a result of her contributions to OERS.

Carin Wittnich is a veterinarian and Professor in the Departments of Physiology & Surgery at the University of Toronto, Canada and Senior Scientist with the Oceanographic Environmental Research Society. She has established a number of unique and well received marine mammal courses at the university for which she has received a number of teaching awards, including, in 2020, Sustained Excellence and innovation in Life Sciences Education. Her research focus for the last decade has been on ocean contaminants, particularly heavy metals and their impact on aquatic species from mammals to fish. She is also JMATE’s founding Editor.