One of Australia's leading marine scientists Professor Jessica Meeuwig will discuss the impact of human activities on the sustainability of our oceans at a free public lecture to be held at The University of Western Australia this Thursday.

Inaugural Director of UWA's Centre for Marine Futures, Professor Meeuwig works in the areas of fish ecology and modelling.

"WA's marine environment is vast and unknown and there are more unique species here than on the Great Barrier Reef," Professor Meeuwig said.  "It is subject to significant pressures in terms of fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration and production, and climate change."

As Deputy Director of Project Seahorse, an international conservation NGO, Professor Meeuwig previously worked in South-East Asia on the science and management of reef fisheries.

Since coming to Perth, she has worked for the WA Department of Environment and Conservation and the Australian Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in policy and planning positions.

At UWA, Professor Meeuwig was part of the research team that delivered the Natural Heritage Trust funded "Marine Futures" project before being appointed Director of the new Centre for Marine Futures.

The Centre builds collaborative partnerships with industry, State Government agencies and research institutions, and regional natural resource management organisations.  It aims to improve our understanding of WA's unique, ancient and fragile marine ecosystem through mapping habitats, assessing biodiversity and understanding the role played by humans.

In late 2008, ABC Catalyst profiled the Marine Futures project: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2352062.htm

WHAT:              Free public lecture

WHEN:              6pm, Thursday, June 25, 2009

WHERE:            University Club, The University of Western Australia, Hackett Drive,

                           Entrance 1, Carpark 3, Crawley.

Light refreshments provided.  RSVP: chris.hale@uwa.edu.au or 6488 1141 (bookings essential).

Media references

Professor Jessica Meeuwig (Centre for Marine Futures)  (+61 8)  6488 1464
Chris Hale (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)  (+61 8)  6488 1141
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716