Dr So Kawaguchi: MFSc, PhD(FSc)
Research interests
I was born in Japan and gained my PhD from Hokkaido University. I started my career as a research scientist at a fishing company in Japan. I was sent down to the Southern Ocean on the company’s krill fishing boat, which was my first encounter with krill, and it has been the theme of my professional career since then. After four years with the company I worked for the Japanese Fisheries Research Agency as a krill scientist for eight years, before moving to Australia in late 2002 to join the Australian Antarctic Division.
I lead the Antarctic Division’s krill research program. My current research activity spans a range of topics relating to Antarctic krill biology and ecology, and studies into the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on krill. These include field studies on research vessels, as well as laboratory studies using the Antarctic Division’s unique krill aquarium facility. My research interest also extends to krill fishery management in the Southern Ocean. Collectively, my research is fundamental to improving our understanding of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and better managing the krill fishery in the Southern Ocean.