Rob Altobelli

Rob Altobelli joined NZTRI in September 2006 as a PhD student.  Rob's PhD study explores Pacific Harbour’s (Fiji) Shark Tourism industry with particular attention being focussed on defining the 'shark tourist' and the role of education and interpretation at selected Pacific Harbour shark dive sites. Rob's undergraduate work was completed at Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada. Rob also contributes to the work of NZTRI as a part-time Research Assistant.

I am currently in the third year of my PhD work here at AUT/NZTRI. In April/May of this past year (2008) I was over in Pacific Harbour, Fiji, collecting data at three selected shark dive sites. I am now at the stage of analysing questionnaires collected over in Fiji while sending online follow-up surveys to all willing participants of the on-site survey. My research plans to delve deeper into the world of Shark Tourism, with specific attention being focussed on the role of education/interpretation at the shark dive sites. I also hope to develop, through my research, a clearer working definition of the shark tourist. 

My experience as a PhD student here at AUT/NZTRI has thus far been very positive. I have met some wonderful and knowledgeable people in many diverse fields of research. Furthermore, the support I have been receiving especially from my supervisors and the NZTRI family has been instrumental in my progress to date and has made my time here very enjoyable and very productive.