Leslie Newman, Ph.D., is a Research Associate in the School of Environmental Science & Management at Southern Cross University in New South Wales, Australia. Since 1990, she has studied polyclad flatworms with Dr. Lester Cannon of the Queensland Museum. Dr. Newman has documented over 400 flatworms and has formally described just under 100 new species. She has developed flatworm fixation techniques which have greatly aided in the classification of these platyhelminthes. Additionally she has documented biodiversity, penis fencing, warning coloration and feeding behavior in many polyclad worms.

Dr. Newman is currently developing on a CD-ROM on 'Fabulous Flatworms' with funding from the Australian Biological Resource Study, Canberra and is working on a book with Lester Cannon on Polyclad Flatworms of the World.

She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Marine Biology from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. Newman has held three post-doctoral fellowships, including a Smithsonian Fellowship in Washington, DC.

How did you choose your present profession?

I always wanted to be a marine biologist since I have a love for the ocean and the animals in it. It has been a long process and I still don't have a real job even after 10 years as a post-doc.

What would you recommend for students wanting to pursue a similar career?

To be flexible and go with the flow. Science is about learning new things and the best way to pursue a career in science is to be ready to change directions at any time.

What do you like best about your profession?

Travel to new places and diving. Also describing 99 new species to date.

What web sites and references would you recommend for viewers interested in your work that was featured inThe Shape of Life series?

There is currently only one website that I know of on flatworms. I am not involved with this and the identifications are questionable but the photos are nice. I should have a book and CD-ROM out soon entitled, Fabulous Flatworms by Leslie Newman and Lester Cannon. It will be published by CSIRO.

For references see the attached list but the most popular articles are:

Newman, L.J. & Cannon, L.R.G. 1994. Absolutely fabulous flatworms. Wildlife Australia 31: 14 -15.

Newman, L.J. & Jennings, K.A. 1997. A slimy problem for oysters. Wildlife Australia 34: 34-36.

Michiels, N. & Newman, L.J. 1998. Sex and violence in a hermaphrodite. Nature 391(6668): 647.

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