PASSION for the study and preservation of a little-known marine life-form has earned one Lions Bay teen a coveted spot at Princeton University this fall.
Kelsey Dennison has spent a lot of time in a boat in Howe Sound, floating above glasssponge bioherms.
"A bioherm is a large reef that's been built up," explained Dennison.
With her dad, a scientist who works at the TRIUMF lab at UBC, Dennison built a waterproof case for a video camera that can be lowered down into the water. The pair have also mapped the reefs, and plan to get samples of the bioherms to look at the sponges' DNA. She has shared her findings with marine biologists at UBC and the Vancouver Aquarium.
Glass sponge bioherms may be hidden away on the ocean floor, but Dennison believes they are still worthy of study - and conservation.
"People think a lot more about conservation that's above ground," said Dennison. "I see it as being similar to a large forest. When you actually see them . . . they're very unique and very beautiful. They're also very rare."
The sponges are also under threat. "We have seen some destroyed and dead bioherms. There are a couple things that cause this, certain fishing practices, any sort of chemical dumping."
Dennison decided on Princeton because the school allows students to tailor their academics and move between disciplines if they want to.
The Rockridge secondary grad doesn't plan to study hard science at Princeton. Rather, she's planning to focus on environmental policy in her quest to make the world a better place.
"I like to work with people and I like to do things that really makes an impact," said Dennison.
"While I do enjoy the science side of things . . . I would prefer to talk to people about why glass sponge bioherms should be preserved."
Dennison has lived in Lions Bay her whole life. Living close to nature in the seaside community inspired her to study and preserve the environment. This fall, she'll be living away from home for the first time.
"It's going to be strange because I'm really going to be starting a new life," said Dennison. "I'm going to be living somewhere different, I'm going to be with different people doing totally different things.
"I'm kind of nervous, but I'm more excited than nervous."
