November 2021

Vivienne White

National Marine Science Plan 2015 - 2025: The Midway Point report

November 23 saw the much anticipated release of The National Marine Science Committee’s latest Report: the National Marine Science Plan 2015-2025: The Midway Point. As a member of the Committee and NMSC Executive, OI Director Julian Partridge participated in the development of this report, and both thanks OI Members consulted and recommends the document to OI Members.

Six years after the initial launch, we have now reached the halfway mark of the NMSC's original National Marine Science Plan 2015 - 2025. The Midway Point report celebrates the achievements of marine scientists and science organisations in driving evidence-based sustainable growth of the blue economy. It also recognises the support of government, industry and other stakeholders in this achievement, and looks ahead at what is still to be achieved in the second half of the timeline.


"This review of Australia’s marine science priorities arrives at a crucial time for collaboration and progress in marine sciences given this year’s commencement of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”

- NMSC Chair, Toni Moate.

­The NMSC is now looking to the research community, industry, government and the public to play their part in supporting and developing the blue economy and ensuring the long-term health of Australian coasts and oceans. The environmental and cultural value of our oceans and coasts remains priceless.
 

Ocean Decade Australia (ODA)

On 26 October, OI Director Julian Partridge provided a welcome to the third ODA Stakeholder Briefing: Behaviour and Action for Change as part of Ocean Decade Australia's series of such events. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOS) is an opportunity to transform the way we relate to the ocean, and set solid grounds for the future relationship, decades and generations to come.

The event, hosted online in Perth, was the final of three events in which ODA brought together diverse Ocean Stakeholders, in this case expert leaders across research sectors and industries. 

The third briefing provided the opportunity for stakeholders, including business leaders (the panelists) to discuss pitch style, what success would look like after a decade focused on the ocean, how we would measure success and what it would take to make it happen.

The aim was provide opportunities to build understanding from a breadth of perspectives across leaders in ocean sciences. The presenters also encouraged participants to consider ocean literacy in terms of their understanding of the oceans influence on them, and the influence they had on the ocean. A key message was the need to work together for the benefit of both the ocean and humanity.  


"If oceans are to be healthy in the future, we need engagement of many elements of society: individuals, communities, industries, NGOs, regulators and all levels of government” Prof Partridge told the online audience. “The future of the oceans depends not just on marine research but on a multiplicity of other stakeholders”

- OI Director, Assoc/Prof Julian Partridge 

 

About UNDOS: UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 

Since 2018, UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) has brought together thousands of stakeholders from governments, scientific research organisations, tertiary institutions, UN partners and the private sector. In 2021 UNESCO launched the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. 

The Ocean Decade is a platform opportunity for organisations, communities, nations and regions to collaboratively supercharge action for a sustainable ocean future. Employing the ocean decade framework will help us to organise our understanding of ocean actions in Australia.

The framework provides a roadmap and mechanism for contributions from all ocean stakeholders to be counted towards a global effort, rather than targets for nations. It highlights the actions required to attain the ocean we want by the year 2030.

The OI is mapping Members' research across the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and how our members are engaged with UNDOS.  OI Member Dr Ana Sequeira is leading Megamove, a UN Endorsed UNDOS Action, and is involved in another AniBOS; OI Director Julian Partridge represents the OI in OBON. We are keen to know other linkages into UNDOS Actions by OI Members and OI affiliates, so please let us know of your work by emailing oceans@uwa.edu.au.

Ocean Supporters' Research Donations 

1. Mapping the hidden, submerged rock art artefacts of the Murujuga traditional inhabitants of the Dampier Archipelago in Australia. Working closely with with traditional owners this project aims to rediscover some of Australia’s lost heritage and is likely to have significant cultural impact (Dr Mick O'Leary);
2. Development of a predictive warning system for application to any rocky shoreline site of wave ‘run-up’. This is the term used for the flow of water onto a shoreline from large waves. Run-up poses an extreme hazard to persons accessing such shorelines (Dr Michael Cuttler); 
3. Development of an online database to enhance global collaboration and information sharing in the tracking of charismatic megafauna such as turtles, whales and whale sharks (Dr Ana Sequeira); 
4. The evaluation of a novel metabolic stress test in fish, bivalve molluscs and crustaceans for application in aquaculture and in understanding environmental marine stressors. (Dr Catherine Wingate); 
5. Optimising the design of regeneration procedures for seagrasses (one of the world’s best natural carbon sequesters) following substantial destruction such as result from marine heatwaves (Dr Maryam Abdolahpour);
6. The evaluation of novel, small, low-cost, drifter buoys incorporating the latest communications technology. These aim to provide an attractive, relatively cheap alternative to classical current measurement methods (Dr Ivica Janekovic with Dr Phil Watson). 

New MERA brand highlights expertise in offshore renewables

November 16 marked the official launch of Marine Energy Research Australia (MERA). Previously known as the UWA Wave Energy Research Centre, the announcement was made at a public oration event in Albany and outlined the need for a new name to better define the centre's capabilities.
 
Since the project’s inception early 2018, through State Government funding, the centre has significantly extended the scope and breadth of its activities to include offshore fixed and floating wind, floating solar and tidal energy.
 
The centre first established its Albany headquarters as a new knowledge hub in offshore ocean renewables research – but with a focus on wave energy on WA’s southern coast. Since then, over 50 peer-reviewed academic papers by research team members have been published. Consulting contracts with wave energy developers and Government agencies have also been developed to apply expert knowledge to the regional context.
 
MERA is now embarking on its next project, a wave energy demonstration device in King George Sound, Albany’s outer harbour. Using the wave attenuator technology “Moored MultiModal Multibody” (M4), the device will collect data to assess the region’s wave energy potential to power the local aquaculture industry.
 
This project will also help establish Albany as the world’s first ‘Wave Energy Marketplace’. While completing the M4 project, MERA’s focus will be to position the Centre nationally and internationally to become a single port of call for all offshore renewable energy projects.

PEAC Kids Outreach Event - Uluu 

On 6 October, the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) hosted a group of high-achieving Perth students (Year 5 and 6) as part of this year's Primary Extension and Challenge (PEAC) program at the Waterman's Bay Research Facility. 

Under the supervision of OI Adjunct Research Fellow Dr Julia Reisser (marine plastics expert and co-founder of Uluu, a start-up bio-polymer company working in collaboration with OI Members and UWA), the students produced their own edible plastic using alginate, a naturally occurring ingredient (and bio-polymer) extracted from seaweeds such as brown algae. Students were then given the opportunity to debate real-world applications and uses of seaweed biomaterials, with clever innovations ranging from sustainable fishing line to disposable medical masks. 

A key takeaway for the students was the importance and benefit of producing sustainable biomaterials from renewable resources, including cultivated seaweeds, and avoiding plastics based on fossil fuels. 

Overall, students left eager to learn more and their enthusiasm to protect the marine environment was inspiring! 

Click here to find out more about the wonderful work undertaken by Uluu in conjunction with OI members and other partners.

Eurekamp OZ! 

During early October, the OI in partnership with PEiPL (Philosophical Engagement in Public Life) Ltd. co-hosted a series of 2-day camps during the school holidays at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) building on UWA Crawley campus. The theme of the program – ‘Oceans 21’, aimed to get kids (between the ages 10 - 14) immersed in the exciting and complex world of the ocean environment and provoke big ideas that arise from it.

OI PhD students, Carly Portch and Justin Geldard, along with presenters from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), led a series of interactive hands-on activities that challenged the kids to explore the ocean from an environmental, conservation and biological perspective – beyond general concepts of marine biology.

Carly, PhD student in Coastal Engineering, introduced students to the thought provoking challenges faced by sea level rise through an interactive activity, ‘save the beach.’ PhD student Justin followed on with the theme of coastal protection, exploring the wonderful innovation of 3D printed corals, working with the kids to design their own nature-based solutions for protecting fragile coastlines - which was very thoroughly enjoyed! 

Great work by our OI presenters for their dedication and hard work! 

Click here to find out more about Eurekamp OZ! 

Carly Portch
Presenter, Eurekamp OZ! 

Justin Geldard
Presenter, Eurekamp OZ!

Presentation Skills Workshop 

On 27 October, the Oceans Institute held a two hour Presentation Skills Workshop presented by Professor Jessica Meeuwig (UWA Professor of Marine Science and co-founder of Blue Abacus).

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) PhD and Masters candidates undertaking a significant marine research component participated in the workshop, with the purpose of developing their skills in professional networking and verbal presentations. The session was also attended by OI Advisory Board Chair Mr Jock Clough (Founder of the Jock Clough Marine Foundation) who, alongside Professor Meeuwig, led the students through interactive exercises with a focus on how to 'work the room' and present their research to non specialists. The event included 'how to approach strangers and start a chat', the 'do's and don'ts of what to say' and 'how to look the part (with quirk)'. The students also had the opportunity to practice these skills in breakout groups and gain valuable feedback.

The workshop was very well received by the students and we look forward to hosting this event for HDR students across the OI and associated UWA Schools on an annual basis.

The OI would like to extend its thanks to Jessica Meeuwig and Jock Clough for the workshop's success! 

2021 Robson & Robertson Award 

This year, eleven Higher Degree by Research PhD students from the OI were awarded a total of $103,000 through the Robson and Robertson Young Scholar Program to further their doctoral research in the marine sciences. 

The awards ceremony was hosted at the IOMRC Crawley building on the 4 November, attended by Robson and Robson benefactor Mr Jock Clough, UWA’s DVCR Prof Tim Colmer, and Oceans Supporters, with featured speakers including former UWA DVCR Emeritus Professor Robyn Owens and Robson and Robertson Fellow and Lead Research Scientist Dr Matt Fraser. 

Congratulations to the 2021 award recipients:

1. Charlotte Aston (School of Biological Sciences) is researching the management of recreational fishing to better inform spatial planning in World Heritage marine parks. 
2. Josh Bonesso (School of Earth Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies) is investigating the impacts of climate change on the longevity of coral reef islands in the Pilbara region to better manage their ecological values.             
3. Mitchell Booth (School of Biological Sciences) aims to better discern the adaptive responses of the sea grass (Posidonia australis) to extreme events and climate change in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. 
4. Katrina Bornt (School of Biological Sciences) is researching the plastic contamination in commercially important crustacean species. 
5. Celina Burkholz (School of Biological Sciences) is utilising transcriptomics to identify bright spots in kelp forests of Western Australia. 
6. Gabrielle Cummins (School of Biological Sciences) is applying ocean accounting to the Sustainable Development Goal 14; Life Below Water at the United Nations Oceans Conference. 
7. Abinaya Meenakshisundaram (School of Biological Sciences) is researching the population genetics of Whale Sharks of the Ningaloo World Heritage Area through Whole Genome Sequencing (IcWGS). 
8. Antoine Minne (School of Biological Sciences) is unravelling deep water genetic refugia for kelps of the Great Southern Reef, WA. 
9. Molly Moustaka (School of Biological Sciences) is understanding how seascape configuration influences the productivity in coastal ecosystems. 
10. Matilda Murley (School of Biological Sciences) investigates invertebrate assemblages on reef platforms along the Western Australian coastline.  
11. Isobel Sewell (School of Biological Sciences) is utilising insect proteins in the diets of aquaculture species.