Roland Ovbiebo

Roland Ovbiebo is a PhD candidate in oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. His research focuses on how mercury pollutants move from rivers to the ocean and transform along the way. Using computer models, Roland investigates how estuarine mixing and climate-driven changes affect mercury transport and methylmercury formation, a toxic form of mercury that accumulates in seafood, posing risks to both human and ecological health. Part of his work focuses on the Niger River, one of Africa’s largest river systems and a significant source of mercury discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. He is testing low-cost protocols that can be deployed in the field for mercury monitoring in resource-limited regions. His work aims to shift the paradigm of mercury monitoring from reactive to proactive, empowering regional institutions, environmental agencies, and communities to assess and address mercury risks in real time. His research bridges environmental chemistry, hydrology, and climate science, with implications for seafood safety, pollution policy, and ecosystem resilience. He holds a bachelor of technology in marine science and technology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and an MS in oceanography from UC San Diego.