Senior Research Scientist Dr Catherine Kemper has been researching mammals at SA Museum since 1983 – and still feels she has a lot to give.
Although close to 70, she certainly doesn’t feel ready to retire. But if she did, she would like to think she could continue to contribute to the museum as an honorary researcher.
“I don’t think you become useless just because you retire.”
Cath started her career researching terrestrial animals before focusing on marine mammals, and has contributed to seeing the SA Museum develop the largest collection of marine mammal specimens in Australia.
“I get great satisfaction that we have collected and curated 2300 specimens,” she said. “It is one of the most comprehensive collections because of the many parts of the animals we collect.
“My expertise is the dead animals: studying the carcass of a dead whale or dolphin helps to contribute to a species’ story.
“When these animals die we try to work out how they died, their age and in the case of whales and dolphins we can often work out how many young a female had.
“My aim ... is to contribute to conservation.
“By having direct contact with the public we feel like we are making a difference by creating awareness about these animals.”
Cath is originally from Canada and on coming to Australia she did a PhD and then moved to the WA Museum before taking on a researcher role at SA Museum.
Key to her success is a passion for her work.
“I’ve always had natural history in my blood,” she said.
“My earliest memories are of natural history and it’s a passion that never stops. I have enormous satisfaction for what we have been able to achieve but museum collections need someone to drive them to keep the momentum.”
Cath is committed to seeing women in science get a better deal and to encouraging women in research.
“We need to break down the barriers.”
Cath is one of four amazing women highlighted in the SA Museum exhibition Her Story: Inspiring Women in Science, which runs until November 15; free admission.