News Archive

His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG took a keen interest in a high-tech marine ocean glider owned by The University of Western Australia when he visited CSIRO aboard the Marine National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor in Sydney last month.

Winthrop Professor Chari Pattiaratchi said the glider had helped revolutionise ocean observations and climate science, playing a vital role in understanding climate change, rising sea levels and ocean acidification.

The glider was on show while CSIRO scientist Dr Steve Rintoul provided Prince William with a five-minute overview of CSIRO's climate and ocean-climate research, which relies heavily on observations made using gliders and other ocean robots from the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). The glider is one of the high-tech submersibles in IMOS's Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders, which is based at UWA and led by Professor Pattiaratchi.

During the ship visit, Prince William was also able to view samples of marine life such as coral, deep-sea fish, crustaceans and sea stars from the Australian Museum and CSIRO.

Professor Pattiaratchi's research on how the oceans are changing, and the effects of those changes on coastal populations, is part of the UWA-based Western Australian Marine Science Institution's research into the real effects of climate change.

Pic caption: Prince William views an ocean glider owned and operated by UWA to monitor oceans around Australia. Photo by: Belinda Mason, Courtesy of: CSIRO

Media references

Winthrop Professor Chari Pattiaratchi (+61 8)  6488 3179

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716