Sebastian Ross

For Bachelor of Science student Sebastian Ross, the University of Waikato has been the perfect launch pad to turn a lifelong fascination with sharks into a meaningful research pathway. 
 
Sebastian grew up in the Coromandel and attended an area school from the age of five through to 18. He says those early years shaped his preference for learning environments where students and teachers know each other well.  

“Being able to build connections with the people who are teaching me was really important,” he explains. “That was one of the reasons Waikato appealed to me. It felt like a place where I could build those kinds of relationships, rather than just feeling like one of hundreds in a lecture theatre.” 
 
Location also played a role in his decision. Waikato’s proximity to home and the beach, including Raglan’s well-known surf breaks, made it the ideal setting. “The campus is beautiful, too,” Sebastian adds. “It’s a really nice place to study.” 
 
Sebastian has received several scholarships recognising his academic achievement and commitment to his field, including the Brian Perry Charitable Trust Scholarship, Distinguished Alumni Scholarship, Shannon Scholarship, and a Summer Research Scholarship. “It’s cool to have the hard work pay off,” he says. “Scholarships like these not only ease financial pressures, they’re a reminder that the effort you put in really matters.” 
 
A highlight of his degree was a semester-long research project in collaboration with the Scott Tindale Marine Research Charitable Trust and prominent shark researchers including Chris Battershill, Melissa Kellett and Clinton Duffy. Sebastian analysed tagging data on bronze whaler sharks and helped produced a research report

Getting to work with some of the biggest names in New Zealand shark research was amazing. It really confirmed that this is what I want to do. 

After graduation, Sebastian will head to the United States to complete a PhD at Florida International University, focusing on the genetics of the shark fin trade in Hong Kong. His long-term goal is to become a leading scientist in shark research and conservation.

“Sharks are magnificent and vital to our ecosystems,” he says. “They deserve to be protected, and I want to be part of that work.”