Joe O’Callaghan

Coastal Physicist – NIWA

Joe O’Callaghan is a physical oceanographer based at NIWA.

She adopts an observational approach to better understand the parts of the ocean where people work and play. Her research focuses on understanding the biophysics of Aotearoa New Zealand’s coasts and shelf seas.

She spends a few months each year out in the field observing Aotearoa New Zealand oceans. This ranges from spending weeks aboard NIWA’s RV Tangaroa or going on day trips to deploy ocean gliders. Joe is the founder of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean robot glider facility. These have revolutionised ocean science by collecting ocean observations at higher spatial and temporal resolutions than those from traditional research vessels for a much lower cost.