Scientists on the high seas



By Penny Langfield

Not many job descriptions call on workers to cruise across the Great Barrier Reef or along the Kimberley coastline. Someone has to do it, though, and for outstanding marine scientists this appealing prospect may become a reality.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science, a government-funded research organisation with its headquarters in Townsville and other laboratories in Perth and Darwin, is recruiting a raft of science specialists to carry out research into tropical marine ecosystems.

Climate change scientists, physical oceanographers, biostatisticians and bioinformaticians are required, while fellowships for talented young scientists are also available.

The institute’s research manager Lyndon Llewellyn says the study of marine issues is vital for ecological sustainability and offers great career opportunities.

“There’ll be field work, so they’ll be given the chance to go out and get on our ships to go and visit places that some people don’t get the chance to ever go and see,” he says. “It’ll be about the chance to implement their science and to implement their vision.”

Since the institute’s launch in 1972, it has been charting the Great Barrier Reef and other marine environments such as the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and the Timor and Arafura seas.

Promoting sustainability and protecting species through innovation and research are among the core goals of the centre. Investigations typically centre on issues such as water quality, biodiversity and the effects of climate change.

Llewellyn says it is about understanding “what is where and why [and] how it might change over time, looking at the impacts of climate change”.

Most of the positions, including a research team leader, will enhance climate change projects. Applications are expected from national and international talent.

“We’re looking to expand our climate change team,” Llewellyn says. “So [we need] a team leader to bring in a global vision and implement that vision and look at climate change upon major systems like the Great Barrier Reef and the Kimberley. So it’s big-scale, big-vision science.”

One of the perks of the job will be getting on board the Solander, a 35m research vessel responsible for carrying scientists to marine environments in Western Australia, or the 24m Cape Ferguson, which accesses waters in the east.

The institute is responsible for much of Australia’s marine observation infrastructure in the tropics. An injection of $55 million of funding from the federal government will go towards facilities such as a state-of-the-art experimental ocean simulator in Townsville that helps researchers in areas such as coral spawning, water quality and climate change. Another relatively new research strand at the institute aims to fill knowledge gaps in the microbial component of the ocean.

“They’re looking at the hidden 99.9 per cent,” Llewellyn says. “It’s easy to see a whale, but it’s hard to see bacteria, but they’re very, very important to the ocean.”

Studies into coral cores are also crucial. Llewellyn says they are similar to rings on trees that can be used to assess the history of the plant and the impact of a changing environment.

“Corals record that history within their skeleton over many hundreds and thousands of years. We’ve got the biggest collection of that in the world and we’re building a new wing to improve how we manage and house that particular collection.”

To collate the research results from multiple institute activities, biostatisticians and bioinformaticians are also being recruited. Llewellyn says obtaining information is not enough; scientists need to make it accessible to industry, government and other interested parties.

“There’s a tidal wave of data being generated and we need to have smart thinking to extract the information and the knowledge out of all that data,” he says.

“Communication is a very important part of our culture and how we do things, so we need to get the information to the people that need it as quickly as possible.”

Three fellowships for top young researchers are designed to give them an opportunity to work with some of the institute’s senior climate change scientists.

A PhD is a prerequisite for all positions being advertised, but skills such as teamwork and communication are also essential.

“We want people who are willing to pick up the ball and run, and take everyone with them and have the skills to be able to bring everybody along and not fall over at their first hurdle,” Llewellyn says. “They have to be happy to get up and get going again.”

Marine scientists

WHERE: The Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Queensland
CLOSING: September 30
INQUIRIES: Dr Peter Doherty for scientist positions, [email protected]; Dr Janice Lough for fellowship positions, [email protected]

Article from The Australian, July, 2010.