Aspiring marine biologist, Noa-Claire Glenny (16) from Jeffreys Bay, was chosen as the sole representative from the Kouga region to participate in the renowned Two Oceans Aquarium’s Young Biologist Course in Cape Town, a distinguished programme fostering future marine biologists.
To inspire others to share her passion for marine conservation, she plans to host a beach clean-up initiative at Jeffreys Bay Main Beach on November 22.
Growing up in close proximity to the coast, Noa-Claire, who has just completed her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams, said that she developed a profound fascination with the ocean.
“When I was younger, I would look for crabs and snails and watch them go about their day,” said Noa-Claire.
With her parents’ support, she developed a love for learning, frequently requesting encyclopaedias and books as birthday and Christmas gifts.
To further her knowledge, Noa-Claire said that earlier this year she began self-studying the Marine Sciences IGCSE subject offered by Cambridge.
To complement her theoretical knowledge, she applied for the Young Biologist Course at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, seeking practical experience and expert insights.
Fortunately, Noa-Claire was chosen alongside 50 other applicants to participate in the one-week course in September.
She said that she was thrilled to learn that she had been was accepted for the programme, which provided her with the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests.
“The course was unbelievable. The first four days were in the classroom, learning about seaweeds, tides, currents, invertebrates, and vertebrates. We cut open a kelp holdfast, which is the root of the kelp, to discover the ecosystem living within. My team found two crabs with eggs,” said Noa-Claire.
“The desks in the classes had a touch pool, meaning we could dip our hands in and feel the different seaweeds as we were learning. The educators were engaging and fun, making what some might call the ‘boring’ part of the course into an amazing experience. Each morning, we wrote a test on the previous day’s work to ensure we were all keeping up and absorbing the information.”
Once the four-day theory component of the course was complete, the remaining four days were spent at a camp in Simon’s Town where they participated in team-building activities, snorkelling, poster and logo designing, swimming, rock pool exploration, and beach clean-up.
Noa-Claire said that her passion for the ocean was reignited by the Young Biologist Course, fuelling her determination to protect its inhabitants through marine science.
To utilise the skills and knowledge acquired, she plans to host a beach clean-up at Jeffreys Bay Main Beach on November 22.
Her father, Joshua, noted that Jeffreys Bay residents have a strong connection to the ocean, driving their desire to mobilise more people for beach clean-up activities.
While Noa-Claire successfully completed all academic requirements during the one-week Young Biologist Course in Cape Town, he said that she must now fulfil the community service component by organising a beach clean-up.
To maximise impact, Joshua said that they have scheduled the beach clean-up before the holiday rush.
“We want to clean the beach ahead of the busy holiday season and before tourists travel to the town,” said Joshua.
To facilitate a successful beach clean-up, he appealed for donations of essential supplies, including disposable gloves, trash bags, and pick-up tongs.
“We are encouraging people to join our beach cleaning efforts,” said Joshua.
For more information or to contribute to the beach clean-up, email Joshua Glenny at joshglenny@gmail.com.
