How would you describe yourself as an undergraduate student?

Not quiet. Challenging but modest and scared.

When and how did you discover your passion/interest in marine and environmental affairs?

Mostly through working with fishers in various places and found they are not always in the best position to be part of solution, which felt not just.

Did you have any mentors who guided you along your educational pathway? Who were they? What impact have they made in your career?

Yes, I have my Ph.D. supervisor Allen Abramson in UCL, and postdoc supervisor, Roger Just, at University of Kent. They taught me that an academic should also be critical and not chase lower hanging fruit.

Whose work in marine and/or environmental affairs do you admire? What makes it influential for you?

There are so many. But I am always inspired by the work of my post-doc colleagues, as they are seriously original.

Describe your pathway to working in academia. What made you decide to pursue a career as a faculty member?

I just ended up being one as I kept doing what I like to do. So, I am pretty lucky.

What do you like most about your work?

I don’t have to spend a second doing what I don’t believe in.

If you could have any amount of funding to conduct research, what would you do and why?

Money is not everything … perhaps producing a film for strategic communication.

What advice would you give to students who are considering studying at SMEA?

Think about what is the problem with environment and society and ask yourself if there is any hope to solve the problem.

What course have you enjoyed teaching the most in the SMEA curriculum?

I enjoy giving any guest lecture!

What makes the students who study with SMEA special/unique/memorable?

Hard work, independence and insightful.

What is your favorite form of marine life and why?

Fishers cos they are funny.

Learn more about Professor Ota by visiting his faculty page.