A Dundee student has delved beneath the waves to launch her own documentary series about Scotland’s marine life.
Elizabeth Mills says that she wants to encourage more people to explore the wonders of the nation’s waters with the launch of When the Tide Retreats, a series of self-produced short films on YouTube.
Under her alias of Marine Mumbles, the Dundee University PhD civil engineering student has taken to her presenting role like a duck to water, filming at beaches across the east coast.
She said she hoped viewers would follow her lead and get outdoors themselves.
“You can go to any piece of coastline and get hands on experiences with the creatures and plants that live in the water,” she said.
“We are one of the few countries that is surrounded by rocky coastlines which cultivate so much life. Luckily for us, every day this underwater world is revealed when the tide retreats so you don’t need to learn to dive, you just need a pair of wellies.”
Elizabeth’s research at Dundee is focusing on the effects of concrete on biofouling – where marine life accumulates on manmade structures such as harbours.
Having graduated with a degree in marine biology from Swansea University, she came to Dundee’s School of Science and Engineering to learn more about how human and marine life interacts.
Elizabeth, originally from Kent, added: “My PhD allows me to do the thing I love the most, which is learn about the creatures on our coastlines, and I want to inspire others by sharing that with them. Rock pooling is not only interesting but also a really fun day out.
“The one thing I’m still waiting to find is an octopus. I’m hopeful as every time I go to the coast I find more amazing life, like lobsters or entire forests of kelp, but even a humble barnacle can be exciting to witness in its natural habitat.”
Among the areas she has explored are spots in Aberdeenshire, East Lothian, Fife and Tayside.
Episodes of When the Tide Retreats will be uploaded regularly to Elizabeth’s YouTube channel.
