Marcus Vandergoes is a paleoecologist at GNS Science in Lower Hutt. His expertise in reconstructing past environmental records from analysing lake sediment cores is providing new insights into New Zealand’s natural history dating back at least 1000 years. Marcus’ scientific expertise is aiding our understanding of how the natural environment has responded to climate change, landscape evolution and human impact over millennia.
Marcus spends a lot of time coordinating and collecting sediment cores from around the country from remote alpine lakes to lowland lakes and coastal lagoons. His interactions with communities have earned him a reputation as a ‘mud whisperer’.
Marcus co-led the Lakes380 programme with Cawthron freshwater scientist, Susie Wood.