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# Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Commemorates UN Women in Science Day
- URL: https://cibocom.ghost.io/cooke-aquaculture-scotland-commemorates-un-women-in-science-day/
- Published: 2020-03-11T01:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T14:55:06.000Z
- Author: Cibocom
- Tags: Cooke Scotland, fish

Science forms the foundation of aquaculture, allowing us to cultivate Scottish salmon in a way that prioritizes their health and welfare, while also safeguarding and improving the marine environment in which they grow. At Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, a significant number of women are involved in applying this science. We honor the contributions women make to our organization and share some of their experiences on the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science. OLA WANDS Ola has always had a passion for fish. She recalls a childhood story where she insisted on having a goldfish at the age of five or six, causing quite a commotion until she got one. Now, her father attributes her career in fish health to this early interest. As a Fish Health Manager at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, Ola spends her typical week visiting various seawater and freshwater farms to ensure the health and welfare of the fish. She explains that their primary business is to produce top-quality farm-raised Scottish salmon. They take immense care of their fish, from daily husbandry to strategic health, welfare, and nutrition plans to ensure the fish thrive in their freshwater and marine environments. Ola's role is diverse, involving hands-on fish inspections, coordinating veterinary health and welfare plans, and participating in numerous projects aimed at improving fish health and welfare. Ola earned her degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from Glasgow University in 2010\. After graduation, she had the opportunity to gain work experience at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and was subsequently hired as the fish health coordinator. With eight years of experience, she was promoted to the role of fish health manager in 2018\. Despite aquaculture being a male-dominated industry, Ola encourages more women to join the sector, especially in the science of salmon farming. RHONA ROBERTSON Rhona Robertson, a Lab Coordinator in the fish health team at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, has never felt that her gender has hindered her ability to do her job. She has always been interested in biology and wanted to work in a lab and conduct research. After earning a degree in Biological Sciences from Glasgow Caledonian University, Rhona gained experience working for a contract research company in Stirling. She joined Cooke Aquaculture Scotland in April 2014 and has since been involved in daily water quality testing, fish health, and in-house diagnostics. Rhona enjoys the diversity of her role, which allows her to work in the lab and visit fish farms. She advises young women interested in a science career to pursue applied courses to gain practical skills that employers value. NAOMI DEMPSEY Naomi Dempsey, Environmental Analyst for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, believes that salmon farming is a crucial part of the community in Orkney. However, she acknowledges that people in other parts of Scotland and the UK may not fully understand where their food comes from and how it is produced. Naomi's journey into science was not straightforward. She completed an undergraduate degree and a PhD in archaeology at Aberdeen University, where she increasingly applied scientific techniques and analysis to her research. After university, she worked on environmental impact and risk assessments before joining Cooke Aquaculture Scotland in 2014\. Her role involves monitoring the health of the seabed and the marine environment and understanding their impact on fish rearing and the environment in which they are farmed. Naomi advises girls considering a career in science to seize every opportunity and supplement their academic pursuits with real workplace experience or volunteering.