Early career Reef researchers receive a boost

Ten Queensland post-graduate students will receive nearly $17,000 worth of grants from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for ground-breaking research into the Great Barrier Reef’s key risks and threats.

Eight James Cook University students and two University of Queensland students working towards a Doctorate or Masters’ degree in physical, biological and social sciences will receive up to $2000 each.

The research ranges from investigating the impact of increasing ocean temperature on commercially important coral reef fish to the impact of using oil spill dispersants in coral reef ecosystems.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt congratulated all the award winners.

“The Marine Park Authority strongly supports early career researchers working on projects that will help understanding and protection of the Reef,” Dr Reichelt said.

“We make our management decisions about the Great Barrier Reef based on the best available science and always welcome new contributions to our knowledge of the Reef ecosystem.

“Through our Science for Management Awards we ask applicants to think about the application of their research in meeting our management needs.

“Their research often offers a different and fresh new angle on existing management practices, which can be beneficial to our long-term projects — it’s a collegial relationship.”

More than 200 post-graduate students have received the grants in their 30-year history, enabling those students to contribute directly to improved future management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The awards aim to encourage post-graduate scientists addressing management-relevant research to engage with the Marine Park Authority during their studies, and continue to consider the application of their work by management throughout their research careers.

The 10 successful 2017 Science for Management Awards recipients will be invited to present their research findings once completed next year, to be included as part of the 2018 Science Seminar Series program.

A full list of award winners is available on our website.