News Archive

On Wednesday 24 March, many distinguished guests and prominent figures in marine science research witnessed the launch of the UWA Oceans in the University Club of WA Auditorium.

After a short DVD introducing the Institute, and a short speech from UWA Vice Chancellor Alan Robson, Industry Minister Senator Kim Carr officially opened the Institute.

An overview of the Oceans Institute and what it means for Western Australia was given by J.S. Toll Professor of Physics Jim Gates, of Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; acting Director of the Oceans Institute Professor Gary Kendrick; UWA PhD student Shari Gallop; Premier’s Research Fellow Professor Malcolm McCulloch, and CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Dr Ian Poiner.

Guests were then invited to morning tea and tours of the Oceans Institute building on Edward Street.

UWA's Oceans Institute is a multi-disciplined research institute that links the many existing strengths in marine science at UWA, namely in physical and biological oceanography, ocean engineering, marine ecology, marine biotechnology and marine management and conservation.

Professor Robson said that although the Institute was the culmination of 10 years of efforts to unite marine research at UWA, it should not be satisfied with leading marine research in WA, but should aim towards being one of the best centres of marine research in the world.

In explaining the unification of many disciplines, Professor Gates related the Oceans Institute to his own research into the unification of quantum mechanics and relativity. Expressing the importance of preparing the next generation of scientists and researchers, he threw his support behind the Institute's interdisciplinary approach.

Later, Dr Poiner restated the importance of the Institute as a focal point of marine research in WA.

Professor Gary Kendrick and Senator Kim Carr both relayed the importance of collaborative efforts with state and national research programs such as AIMS and the CSIRO .

The importance of marine research along WA’s massive coastline was driven home as both speakers mentioned biodiversity hotspots, collections of endemic species, economic value of marine based industry and the need for informed and practical resource management operations in WA’s vast and varied marine environment.

Views on the Institute's future were given by Ms Gallop and Professor McCulloch. Ms Gallop spoke passionately about her first research experiences and how she has been given industry relevant training opportunities.

Professor McCulloch gave a brief vignette of his next research study into the calcification of coral in response to changes in atmospheric CO ² levels, a program that he hopes will show the baseline capacity for coral reef environments to cope with CO ² level changes.

Well received and well attended, the launch of the UWA Oceans Institute was an informing morning that outlined a new future for marine science research at UWA.

Based on interdisciplinary research and collaborative research efforts, the unification of UWA’s marine science researchers in the Oceans Institute is a proactive step for effective and informed marine resource management.

Oceans Institute introductory video