Kate Love is completing her final year of her BSc in Marine Biology and will be writing her honours thesis in the Gunawardena Lab during the 2021/22 school year. She is focused on understanding more about the ecology of Madagascar Lace and will be striving to determine the best method of growing this aquatic plant in aquarium conditions. The main purpose of her research is to induce inflorescence in captivity and to analyze the functionality of the lace plant’s perforated leaf structure, specifically if there is a relationship between leaf perforation and water turbulence. Kate has years of experience in the aquarium hobby and, is excited to be working with Dr. Gunawardena and her team.

In her spare time Kate enjoys exploring Nova Scotia’s coastline. When the weather is nice, she spends time hiking, snorkeling and surfing, and when inside she is usually reading a good book. Kate currently works at a local aquarium shop and as a Teaching Assistant in Dalhousie’s Biology department. In the future, she wishes to be an environmental advocate and work within a field that focuses on environmental preservation and restoration.