Chocolate production is declining due to climate change and disease, threatening global supply. Ecuador’s cacao variety CCN-51, created by Omero Castro Zurita in 1965, offers a disease-resistant, high-yield solution. This MFA documentary project highlights his overlooked legacy and investigates whether CCN-51 can sustainably address the global cocoa shortage.

This research develops stable-isotope tools to measure how microbes—the Earth’s “lungs”—breathe CO₂ in and out. Microbes are massively abundant and shape global climate. Findings show deep subsurface environments slowly emit CO₂, a process that may influence future climate dynamics as human-driven environmental changes accelerate.

This research shows how environmental DNA (eDNA) can rapidly and sensitively detect marine species threatened by climate change. By analysing seawater samples, the study identified over 18,800 species and revealed fine-scale ecological shifts. eDNA offers a powerful, scalable tool to monitor coastal ecosystems and protect vulnerable species as environmental conditions worsen.

This research examines why people choose to engage with disturbing stories of strangers’ suffering, despite emotional discomfort. Motivations include curiosity, empathy, self-understanding, and seeking awareness of the world. Understanding these reasons may help promote greater social empathy, awareness of urgent struggles, and engagement with issues requiring collective action.

Feathers and blood preserve detailed biological records of Tītī stress, diet, and environment across both New Zealand and the North Pacific. By analysing hormones and stable isotopes in modern and historical samples, this research reveals how climate change affects Tītī populations and identifies which groups are most vulnerable, guiding future conservation efforts.

My research uses high-resolution maps and video-game simulation software to model future flooding in Abu Dhabi under projected sea-level rise. The immersive tool helps identify risks, guide infrastructure adaptation, protect sensitive areas, and support long-term planning. By visualizing future scenarios, the project empowers communities and policymakers to take proactive climate action.

This research redesigns long wind-turbine blades for low-wind-speed sites by shifting structural strength from the internal spar to the aerodynamic shell. The new “eggshell-like” design reduces bending under the blade’s own weight, requires less material, and lowers costs—helping make wind power cheaper than fossil fuels without relying on political action.

This research uses ultra-fast femtosecond lasers to study how photovoltaic materials generate and lose electrons. By tracking where electrons form and where they become trapped, the work aims to improve solar panel efficiency. Better photovoltaic materials could make solar energy cheaper, more reliable, and capable of replacing fossil fuels.

This research develops flexible, bird-inspired aircraft wings that can smoothly change shape during flight. By combining stiff carbon-fibre structures with elastic outer skins, these wings reduce drag, fuel consumption, and noise. With aviation’s emissions projected to rise sharply, such morphing-wing technology could make future flights cleaner, quieter, and potentially cheaper.