Verena Tunnicliffe grew up in the center of Ontario. Her fascination with ocean started at a young age, though she never glimpsed the sea until she was nineteen. It was her mother who introduced her, at age seven, to the ocean. A small wooden box encrusted with seashells, brought back to her from Florida was all it took to begin a lifelong obsession with the sea. Tunnicliffe decided then to become a marine biologist and dedicate her time to learning the name and origin of all the creatures that created those shells. The early 80’s proved fruitful for the young doctor. Intending only to do a little research, Dr. Tunnicliffe instead became the first woman on the West Coast to lead deep-sea research expeditions from Vancouver Island. She only meant to stay in British Columbia for two years, but by 1983 Dr. Tunnicliffe helped to discover hydrothermal vent systems off the coast, explored previously unknown sections of the deep sea, and was part of the discovery of over 80 new marine species.
Career
Tunnicliffe has been a professor at the University of Victoria in the Departments of Biology and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences for years. She is a marine biologist who holds a Canada Research Chair in Deep Ocean Research. As a research chair, her work mainly focuses on the use of submersibles and deep sea observatories to research and discover deep sea ecosystems and hydrothermal vents located on the Pacific Coast. Her lab has been working for over 30 years on animals that live near hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean, mainly focusing work in the Juan de Fuca Plate. Her research on hydrothermal systems helped establish Canada's first Endeavor Hot Vents Marine Protected Area. In her career thus far, she has discovered 80 new species of life including 9 that are named after her. Tunnicliffe is also a member of the Canadian Scientific Submersible Faculty where the group raised funds to run and operate the ROPOS, a submarine that is remote-controlled that can go a depth of 3 miles. She also donated over 10 years of service, in 2012, as the Director of the cabled subsea observing network, VENUS. Tunnicliffe is a collaborator with the Canadian Healthy Ocean Strategic Network who works in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Her main work as a collaborator is discovering ways to conserve the Canadian marine ecosystems.
Personal life
Much of Tunnicliffe's personal life revolves around her career. Both her parents had a strong influence on her interest in science. Her father was a nuclear physicist at Chalk River in Ontario, Canada.. He treated Verena and her older brother as equals, making sure they knew skills such as constructing a telescope and tinkering with electronics. Although her father was hesitant to employ women, due to the views of society at the time, he encouraged Verena to pursue her interests. Turncliffe is married John Garrett, a marine policy consultant, and has a child, Arielle, now 26. Verena told her daughter to "follow her passion" and to "address your own happiness and health". Her daughter was pursuing a PhD in science in 2014.
Publications
Honors and awards
Canada Research Chair in Deep Ocean Research Murray Newman Award for Excellence in Aquatic Science and Conservation. - Received for her achievement in aquatic research and conservation. David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research
