Research Highlights Report 2017/18 - The University of ...
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Research Highlights Report 2017/18
“Desalination, wave energy, algae biofuel research, ocean nourishment and aquaculture are just some of the ocean- based solutions in which we are involved to safely and sustainably provide critical resources for human development, water, food, energy and bio-resources. In 2019 we are continuing to build on these achievements, most recently as part of the Blue Economy CRC.” Professor Peter Veth - UWA Oceans Institute Director
Contents
02 34
Timeline Collaboration
a. KISSME team sets sail!
04
b. Matariki workshops cover marine
extremes
c. MOU with Deltares to lead
Executive Summaries to increased collaboration
d. Sharing knowledge with Zhejiang
University
08 h. Seagrass Restoration Network
launched
i. UWA collaboration investigating
Highlights marine ecosystems on the North
West Shelf
a. New Chairs in Offshore j. Global warming and recurrent
Engineering and Geotechnics mass bleaching of corals
b. RV Sonne expedition k. Local and international
c. Open Day success collaboration
d. Robson and Robertson awards
e. Batavia mysteries unfold with
discovery of mass grave
f. The ARC Industrial Transformation
Research Hub for Offshore
44
Floating Facilities at UWA Conferences and Events
g. A story of Sammy, sharks, a blue
l. UN Ocean Conference
planet and green seas
m. In The Zone: The Blue Zone
h. Tagging tiger sharks in Ningaloo
Conference
i. Whale sharks don’t like to venture
n. The WAMSI Research Conference
too far from home
- Kimberley Marine Research
j. Postdoctoral researchers put
Program
scholarships to great use for
our oceans
48
k. The oral history of our ocean
environment
l. Dolphin name games
m. Engineering a winning strategy Media and Outreach
for the Rottnest Swim
n. The rise of turfs – flattening of a. Free resource for schools
kelp forests b. OI members talking Tedx
o. Great Southern Reef to lose huge c. All that glitters definitely not gold
seaweed habitat to ocean
warming
p. Coral reefs protect coasts from
severe storms
q. The great debate – plastic versus
54
metal water bottles
Publications
r. Fish at home on subsea oil and a. 2017 Publications
gas pipelines b. 2018 Publications
OBJECTIVES
Timeline
2017
JANUARY APRIL
UNESCO IOC PPO Conference held at An MOU signed with Stichting The Honourable Craig Laundy,
IOMRC, attended by 80 international Delatares to increase collaboration on Assistant Minister for Industry,
scientists in marine and climate a broad range of research topics, in Innovation and Science and Senator
research. particular related to coastal dynamics, Linda Reynolds visit IOMRC and the IO
water quality modelling and offshore to hear about the latest research
MARCH engineering. collaborations and view the world
Dr Taryn Foster awarded the 2016 class marine research facilities.
Virginia Chadwick Award. Dr Foster’s MAY
research focuses on how high-latitude OI member Professor Jessica Meeuwig Professor Phil Watson appointed the
corals in WA will respond to climate nominated for WA Australian of EMI Shell Chair in Offshore Engineering.
change stressors such as warmer the Year.
waters and ocean acidification. Dr Jade Lindley sponsored by the US
JUNE State Department to join their
The OI partnered with the US International Visitors Leadership
3200 people step on board the
Consulate General in Perth to screen Program – 2017’s theme being
German Research Vessel RV Sonne,
Our Rising Oceans as part of the Our Strategic and Economic Issues for the
when an open day was held whilst the
Oceans film showcase – an initiative Indian Ocean Region.
vessel was docked at Fremantle Port.
between the US Department of State,
the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film SEPTEMBER
OI member, former OFFshore Hub
Festival, DC Environmental Film Director and former Shell EMI Chair in After more than 7000km of travel and
Festival and Blue Ocean Film Festival. Offshore Engineering Professor David 11 months in the water, the Challenger
White elected a Fellow of the Royal Ocean Glider successfully recovered
Institute of Naval Architects (RINA). off the Sri Lankan Coast.
AUGUST OCTOBER
IOMRC Crawley formally opened by In The Zone, WA’s premier forum on
the Federal Education and Training questions of regional significance,
Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham, featuring a range of speakers from
with UWA Vice Chancellor Dawn academia, government and industry
Freshwater and key executives and held in Perth. The event focused on
VIPs from across UWA and the IOMRC the maritime realm: ‘In the Zone: The
partnership in attendance. Blue Zone Conference’.
2 The University of Western Australia
OBJECTIVES
2018
JANUARY FEBRUARY MAY
Representatives from the OI attend Marine Megafauna Movement Dr Fraser Bransby appointed the
the Understanding Flooding on Analytical Program (MMMAP) Forum Fugro Chair in Geotechnics.
Reef-lined Island Coasts Workshop in 2018 held in the IOMRC Auditorium,
Honolulu. The workshop was showcasing key research in the Dr Verena Schoepf joins other
organized by the US Geological marine megafauna movement and researchers to from UWA Research
Survey, Deltares Institute providing networking opportunities for an evening of science at Rosie
Netherlands, National Oceanic and to generate future collaborations. O’Grady in Northbridge, with her topic
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) OI member Dr Ana Sequeira from the – Coral reefs in WA.
and included participants from Australian Institute of Marine Science,
CSIRO, New Zealand National was among the speakers. NOVEMBER
Institute of Water and Atmosphere OI PhD student Todd Bond takes out
(NIWA), The Pacific Community Fiji, Book launch for Oceans Safety, Marine the prize for best student talk at the
University of San Diego, University of Health and the Blue Economy, edited Marine Alliance for Science and
Cantabria, IHE Delft Institute for Water by Erika Techera and Gundula Winters. Technology (MASTS) annual science
Education, Stanford University and meeting in Scotland.
University of Hawaii. MARCH
The OI participates in the Australian DECEMBER
OI members Chari Pattiaratchi and Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference. Perth Fish, a free book resource for
Ems Wijeratne team up with
primary and secondary school
University of Tasmania’s Roger OI and ARC Centre of Excellence for students launched by fish ecologists
Proctor to develop a map that easily Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) alumni Dr Dianne McLean and Research
explains where the ocean currents Renee Gruber awarded a 2017 Virginia Assistant Michael Taylor.
flow around Australia. Chadwick Award for her publication in
Limnology and Oceanography.
The OI’s Anna Cresswell features in
the Western Australian Museum’s
Ningaloo Dome Experience.
Image: Joan Costa
oceans.uwa.edu.au 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive Summary
In 2019, the Oceans Institute is driving to pursue large projects that utilise the
initiatives in two new and important full breadth of our inter-disciplinary
focus areas, ocean plastics and skills, working closely with industry,
seascapes, the latter encompassing government and community partners
integrated cultural studies of marine and constantly extending our reach.
catchments. The latter is something
that, as a marine archaeologist with Assisting with this is our role as a key
a significant marine focus, I have player in the Southern Hemisphere’s
been involved in first-hand for over most ambitious interdisciplinary
30 years, including working on the marine partnership, the Indian Ocean
marine heritage of the Aru Islands, Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) – a
The UWA Oceans Institute is now Timor Leste, Torres Strait, Dampier dynamic and high-level research
in its ninth year and entering a Archipelago and collaboratively on partnership bringing together CSIRO,
new phase of development and some of the Kimberley archipelagos. the Australian Institute of Marine
growth. The Institute is unique My work across northern Australia and Science (AIMS) and the Western
in bringing together research the Western Desert has been carried Australian Department of Fisheries,
staff and students from across a out closely with Traditional Owners
along with our own researchers
range of disciplines, all focused and infrastructure. It includes the
recording occupational histories,
on providing solutions to the refurbished Watermans Bay Marine
ethno-economic, dietary
many challenges facing the Centre, the Indian Ocean’s first seawater
and settlement behaviours.
world’s oceans. facility for broad marine research.
My ongoing work on the Montebello
Desalination, wave energy, algae UWA recognises the potential for
and Barrow Islands with a wide range
biofuel research, ocean nourishment ocean research to deliver significant
of ecologists, dating and marine
and aquaculture are just some socioeconomic benefits locally and
scientists, established the earliest
of the ocean-based solutions in globally. Through the Oceans Institute,
evidence for coastal occupation of
which we are involved to safely and the University is responding to the
Aboriginal people at 50,000 years ago
sustainably provide critical resources national imperative, as articulated by
and the systematic use of a broad
for human development, water, food, the Australian Research Council, that
suite of maritime resources through
energy and bio-resources. In 2019 university research shouldn’t only be
periods of significantly fluctuating
we are continuing to build on these internationally acknowledged through
sea-levels and changing climate. The peer review, but should also have a
achievements, most recently as part
of the Blue Economy CRC. integrated human-marine perspectives tangible positive impact. It’s something
can provide valuable insights into how we plan on delivering for many years
To assist in this work, we have we might manage seascapes into the to come.
welcomed a new External Advisory future. It’s this mix of social sciences,
Board: Jock Clough with Dr Larry including legal perspectives, integrated And finally, I wish to express my
Madin, Dr Erica Smyth AC, Dr Luke with the Institute’s core disciplines of gratitude for the outstanding
Smith, Dr Carmen Lawrence and marine biology and ecology, physical contributions made by Professor
Professor John Chandler bring with oceanography and ocean engineering Erika Techera and Professor Shaun
them a wealth of industry, business that I believe makes us unique. Collin to the UWA Oceans Institute
and policy experience, ably backing our between 2017 and 2018 - a sentiment
cross-faculty leadership and business And so it is fitting that in its 2030 Vision I know is echoed by other staff
teams in providing expert direction and Strategy UWA has named oceans and members.
and high level advice on key research and the marine environment as one
themes. of its seven Grand Challenges – key
Professor Peter Veth
issues the University believes are
Director, UWA Oceans Institute
crucial to the future of the planet. For
the Institute, it means we will continue
4 The University of Western Australia
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2018
Nicole Jones coordinated a group Marine diverse megafauna feature
workshop between the University of significantly among OI members’
California and Scripps Institution of research outputs, attracting ongoing
Oceanography at an Ocean Sciences public interest. The OI’s role in public
Meeting in Portland, focused on future engagement in science was also
partnering with UWA on a range of exemplified by a wide range of
oceans-related research and teaching activities, including talks to the public,
activities. As a result of this initiative, radio and TV appearances, and the
the OI now has a MoU with Scripps that production of a free book about our
will form the platform for future local fish aimed at school children.
collaborations.
The year 2018 saw both As in previous years, the OI was
consolidation and change The ecological sustainability and fortunate in 2018 to benefit from
at the Oceans Institute. conservation of our oceans and their support and philanthropy. In
biota remains at the forefront of particularly, the Robson and Robertson
The 2018 finalisation and publication of OI research activities, with OI running awards from the Jock Clough Marine
the Oceans Institute ‘Research Strategy a workshop on the importance of Foundation once again provided highly
2018-2022’ document provided a oceans in carbon budgets and OI beneficial research funds to support
framework for the future of the OI with members producing significant several OI PhD students.
the clear delineation of five research advances in different environments
themes: Coasts and communities; ranging from tropical coral reefs to The year 2018 also marks my final year
Energy from the Oceans; Fisheries, temperate kelp forests. at UWA. It has been a great privilege to
food security and aquaculture; Marine hold the role of Acting Director this year
conservation, ecology and climate The Indian Ocean Conference on and be able to contribute to the
change; and Maritime security, safety Blue Carbon was held in the IOMRC construction and occupation of a
and defence. Auditorium in March. wonderful facility dedicated to
conserving our oceans over the last
The fundamental importance of OI’s Less positively, but equally importantly, nine years. I would like to convey my
global perspective continued, with research published in BioScience and sincere thanks to the wonderfully
numerous activities underlining the carried out by Thomas Wernberg and collegiate OI team that I was able to
importance of the Institute to Indian Karen Filbee-Dexter for the Norwegian lead this year, especially Glenda Nyhuis,
Ocean rim countries and those countries Institute for Water Research found that Robert Pemberton, Julian Partridge,
to our north. Our high level of kelp forests around the world are Amanda Flood and Angela Wilson. I
engagement shows that OI members being degraded into flat seascapes wish the incoming Director, Professor
are open for research and teaching carpeted by short turf-algae, with the Peter Veth, and the new OI Team all the
collaborations across the world. WA coastline being one of the worst best for the future.
affected areas.
The OI hosted a number of visitors and Professor Shaun Collin
delegations in the first quarter Thomas Wernberg and another team of
including the Hon Mr Vasantha international and Australian colleagues
Senanayake, Sri Lankan State Minister also published a study in Diversity and
for Foreign Affairs, and Mr Josh Jalagge, Distributions which found that even
Honorary Consul (WA jurisdiction) of under the most optimistic carbon
the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri emission scenarios, ocean warming is
Lanka. Discussions centred around likely to cause substantial loss of
border security, bio-security, critical habitat-forming seaweeds on
environmental sustainability, Australia’s Great Southern Reef by 2100.
monitoring of coastlines and remote
monitoring of illegal activities.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2017
For example, the preparation of the The OI recognises the importance of
Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for engaging with the broader community.
Decommissioning Offshore In 2017 we continued to work with local
Infrastructure bid brought together schools, for example, and together with
scientists, engineers, lawyers, the UWA Institute of Advanced Studies,
economists and managers all focusing we established a new public lecture
on securing environmentally safe and series: ‘All at Sea’.
sustainable outcomes as offshore
infrastructure reaches its end of life. We would not have achieved all that we
did during 2017 without strong support
Although ultimately not selected to go from within and beyond the University.
I was honoured to have led the
forward, the CRC DOI bid demonstrated Mr Jock Clough has been a particularly
UWA Oceans Institute in 2017
not only the strengths of the OI but the significant supporter of the OI from the
during a period the Institute
ability to apply our expertise and start and during 2017 the Jock Clough
continued to grow and
engage with industry on a pressing Marine Foundation funded a new
strengthen.
post-doctoral scholarship and PhD
current concern and also allowed us to
fund to assist students.
The year started with our move into the build on our skills and expertise for
new Indian Ocean Marine Research these sorts of large scale projects,
Named in honour of Professor Alan
Centre (IOMRC) building on the Crawley paving the way for future bids.
Robson AO CitWA and Alistar Robertson,
campus. Completed in 2016, the building
who played a fundamental role in
quickly became home to critical Similarly, the ‘Marines Extremes’
creating the UWA Oceans Institute, the
research infrastructure and over 300 workshop in December 2017, brought
‘Robson and Robertson’ awards support
researchers from UWA, CSIRO and AIMS. together scholars focused on extreme
early career researchers working
events, impacts, environments and
on conservation, genetics and
Combined with the Watermans Bay behaviours related to our oceans.
aquaculture projects.
facility, it is the most ambitious and
prestigious marine research facility in The outcomes not only included new
Professor Erika Techera
the southern hemisphere and quickly understanding and collaborations but
catalysed collaborative engagement also a book as a tangible output of the
across the partnership, as well as workshop and research theme: Marine
between disciplines within the diverse Extremes: Ocean safety, marine health
UWA membership. and the blue economy (Routledge, 2019).
2017 also saw the OI develop a new The workshop was hosted under the
Strategic Plan and Research Strategy, banner of a new Matariki Network of
with key research themes including Universities theme on ‘Oceans and the
energy, fisheries and food, security and Blue Economy’ involving colleagues
safety, conservation, climate change, from the US, NZ and Europe, as well as
coasts and communities. Importantly,
UWA academics and students.
education and training, as well as
student experience, were also a focus.
Our academic outreach beyond
Australia was significant in 2017,
The Institute is a multidisciplinary
illustrated by events such as the
research body and during 2017 we
DFAT-funded short course in Mauritius
demonstrated how this works and why
and new research collaborations with
it is important.
Deltares in the Netherlands.
6 The University of Western Australia
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY oceans.uwa.edu.au 7
Highlights 8 The University of Western Australia
HIGHLIGHTS
New Chairs in Offshore
Engineering and Geotechnics
The announcement of two new
Chairs in the oceans space in
2017 and 2018 has brought a
wealth of new industry
knowledge to UWA.
In 2017 OI member, Professor Phil
Watson was appointed Shell Chair
in Offshore Engineering, and leading
geotechnical engineer Dr Fraser Bransby
the Fugro Chair in Geotechnics the
following year.
Fugro Chair in Geotechnics, Professor Fraser Bransby
funds a number of academic and post- In 2010 Professor Bransby moved to
doctoral research positions, and current industry full-time where he led the
activities include significant interaction technical and innovation aspects
with Shell teams across the world. of a large number of projects both
Shell Chair in Offshore Engineering,
Professor Phil Watson offshore Australia and globally, often in
Professor Watson is also Director of collaboration with global Fugro teams.
Shell Chair in Offshore the Offshore Floating Facilities Research This gave him an excellent starting point
Engineering Hub (www.offshorehub.edu.au), a major when taking up the Fugro Chair role.
research project at UWA funded by
Professor Watson completed his Shell in partnership with Woodside, The Fugro Chair in Geotechnics was
PhD at UWA in the 1990’s and has Lloyds and Bureau Veritas, alongside established in 2014 to mutually benefit
held a number of high-profile roles the Australian Research Council. UWA and Fugro by targeting research
in the consulting sector since that to industry-relevant problems in
time. He was a director of Advanced Fugro Chair in Geotechnics geotechnical engineering and site
Geomechanics, before taking joint characterisation, thereby creating
roles in Fugro as Managing Director Professor Bransby has worked across impact. The Chair also provides
of Fugro AG and Global Director of academia and industry, applying his funding for PhD scholarships to aid in
GeoConsulting – positions where geotechnical expertise to meet the the growth of high quality graduates in
he helped create research-inspired scientific and engineering challenges of offshore geotechnics and engineering,
engineering solutions that have been the offshore engineering industry. with selected students having taken up
applied across the oil and gas industry the opportunity to work with Fugro.
in Australia and globally. He obtained his PhD in soil mechanics
from the University of Cambridge and
The Shell Chair in Offshore Engineering spent the next 15 years of his career
was created to advance research and undertaking university geotechnical
industry collaboration in WA’s offshore teaching and research on a wide range
industry with Shell committing to a of topics and collaborating closely with
five-year extension in 2017. The Chair the offshore industry.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 9HIGHLIGHTS
RV Sonne expedition
During an early morning in A collaboration between the Alfred In addition to the geological
June 2017, a group of 33 scientists Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for investigations, important biological
and technicians from 10 countries Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and studies were also carried out with the
boarded one the world’s most the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for focus on deep sea fish, squid and
high-tech, deep-sea research Ocean Research Kiel, the key aim for shrimp to see bioluminescent light in
vessels, the RV Sonne. INGON was to investigate magmatic the darkness of 500-1500 depth.
Representing the SO258 Leg 1 and tectonic processes that trigger the Professor Shaun Collin, who led the
Scientific Party, the group break-up of continents and the biological studies, was overwhelmed
prepared to set sail on a research formation of ocean basins. with the deep sea creatures.
trip which would take them
from Fremantle to Sri Lanka over This is not only an important topic in On arrival in Colombo the expedition
five weeks. basic research contributing to better was voted a huge success, with the
understanding of the Earth’s systems, highlights including venturing across
Two of the principal investigators for but provides important data on the seamounts previously unexplored, as
the expedition, Professor Shaun Collin relations between magmatic and well as the collection of over 20
and Associate Professor Julian volcanic activity and their influence volcanic rocks and more than 2000
Partridge from the OI, were on board to on environment, climate, and biological specimens.
assist the research program INGON. ecological systems.
© Professor Jochen Wagner
10 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Open Day success
While it was docked in Fremantle
Port, the RV Sonne held an open
day with members of the public
invited to step aboard and have
a look around the research
laboratories and other parts
of the ship.
Exhibits hosted by international
scientists, including those from
Germany and Australia who were about
to take to sea on the ship, allowed the
public to discuss current research topics
directly with the researchers involved.
The event was a huge success with more
than 3,200 people stepping aboard
the cutting-edge vessel, which plays a
crucial role for marine science and was
in Australian waters taking samples
from the ocean floor.
The OI’s Professor Shaun Collin and
Associate Professor Julian Partridge
were among those on board showing
off what the RV Sonne had to offer, and
discussing their fascination with deep
sea animals.
With eight laboratories on board,
around 40-45 scientists can live and
work on board the RV Sonne during
expeditions across the world’s oceans
and seas.
Creatures from the deep. The deep sea amphipod, Phronima, in the protective barrel that
it makes from other deep sea animals; and free living. This voracious predator is only a
cm or two in size but has a range of grasping claws and huge, unique eyes to search for
prey. This is one of the genera of animals that OI PhD student Annie Jessop and Associate
Tied down. Associate Professor Julian Partridge Professor Julian Partridge studied on the RV Sonne expedition using electrophysiology
and PhD student Anna-Lee Jessop made sure and later back at UWA with colleagues Drs Jan Hemmi and Zahra Bagheri using micro
everything was ship shape (and tied down!) in Computer Tomography (microCT)
their laboratory aboard the RV Sonne, which ©Julian Partridge and Milly Sharkey
was all set up for electrophysiology work
Photo credit: Associate Professor Julian Partridge
oceans.uwa.edu.au 11HIGHLIGHTS
Robson and Robertson awards
Protecting what we have is the key
When Matthew Fraser moved to researchers from a variety of disciplines The five-year fellowship is designed
Perth from Glasgow in 2006, he can have exposure to many other areas to support early career researchers
couldn’t have imagined a trip to such as law and policy,” he said. in pioneering global research by
the Great Barrier Reef would set “We can collaborate with researchers addressing ocean challenges in
the direction for a career as a who have skills we don’t otherwise conservation, genetics and
marine scientist. have access to every day and we can acquaculture.
build on these relationships.”
It’s fair to say it didn’t take the The awards are also designed
Glaswegian long to be captivated by In 2017 Matthew was given an even
to provide opportunities for
our coastline and everything the WA greater opportunity to pursue his
lifestyle has to offer. That passion for marine research after he was awarded other outstanding young
our diverse and unique marine the inaugural postdoctoral fellowship scholars to undertake exciting
ecosystems led Matthew to UWA to of the Robson and Robertson Awards, and innovative oceans
complete a degree in marine science. made possible through a generous
research (see breakout box).
Specialising in benthic ecology, he’s donation from the Jock Clough Marine
now developing innovative solutions Foundation.
to improve the conservation and By studying critical marine habitats,
management of our coastal ecosystems. The Awards honour Professor Matthew is aiming to apply his research
Alan Robson AO CitWA and Emeritus outcomes and influence government
Matthew credits a lot of his success to Professor Alistar Robertson for their policies relating to the management
working within UWA’s Oceans Institute, integral role in establishing the OI of marine ecosystems.
which he says has opened doors to and they come with a very clear goal
himself and a lot of other researchers. – to encourage and support young
“Being part of the OI has meant researchers in the field of marine science.
By year end 2018, 23 young and talented marine students had been chosen
to receive between $1,000 and $10,000 each from the Robson and Robertson
Awards Scheme to support their doctorate research: Daniel Van Hees,
Stephanie Venables, Matthew Navarro, Chenae Tuckett, Maharani Yulisti,
Jonathan Mitchell, Tamara Schlosser, Joseph Turner, Nguyen Chi, Lauren Peel,
Anita Giraldo, Sahira Bell, Charlotte Birkmanis, Todd Bond, Nestor Bosch, Nery
Contti Neto, Michael Kelly, Belinda Martin, Yannick Mulders, Albert Pessarrodna
Silvestre, Sofie Vraken, Salvador Zarco Perello and Andrew Zulberti.
Dr Matthew Fraser doing what he loves best
12 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Batavia mysteries unfold with
discovery of mass grave
In November 2017, an international
team of archaeologists, including
researchers from UWA and the
Western Australian Museum,
discovered a new communal
grave in the Abrolhos Islands,
the result of deaths after the 1629
shipwreck of the Dutch East India
company ship, Batavia.
UWA Professor Alistair Paterson, who
led the international collaboration
of researchers with Dr Jeremy Green
from the Western Australian Museum,
said the discovery of the new grave
unearthed vital clues about what
happened on Beacon Island almost
400 years ago.
The Batavia was wrecked in 1629
on the Morning Reef off the Western
Australian coast. Out of more than An interpretation of the mutiny taken from a plate from Pelsaert, F. and J. v. Vliet (1647)
300 people on board the Batavia,
there were 282 survivors. Most of “A total of 12 individuals have been The research is funded by the Australian
these survivors ended up on Beacon discovered in a central part of Beacon Research Council ‘Shipwrecks of
Island, a small coral island described Island in the past three years during our the Roaring Forties’ project, and is
as ‘Batavia’s Graveyard’ by the Dutch. research project, providing valuable being undertaken in partnership with
In the following months, a mutiny new information about the events the WA Museum, Vrije Universiteit
unfolded, leading to the further deaths following the wreck of the Batavia.” Amsterdam, Curtin University, Flinders
of around 115 people, many of whom University, British Museum, Embassy
were murdered by the mutineers. Dr Jeremy Green, Head of Maritime of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Archaeology at the Western Australian in Australia, Cultural Heritage
The communal grave discovered on Museum, has been investigating the Agency of the Netherlands, National
Beacon Island was made up of five Batavia and the story of its survivors Archives of the Netherlands, Prospero
sets of human remains along with since the wreck’s discovery more than Productions, The Australasian Institute
artefacts, and follows earlier findings 50 years ago. for Maritime Archaeology and Tasmania
according to UWA Associate Professor Parks & Wildlife Service. It is also
Daniel Franklin. He emphasises there are still supported by a Federal Government
‘Protecting National Heritage Sites–
very important discoveries
“At the time it was realised there were a Batavia’ grant.
further two individuals buried beneath, to be made in relation to
who were duly uncovered in a shorter the remarkable human story
expedition in February 2018,” Associate behind one of Australia’s
Professor Franklin said.
earliest shipwrecks.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 13HIGHLIGHTS
The ARC Industrial Transformation
Research Hub for Offshore Floating
Facilities at UWA
It was all systems go for the Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Offshore Floating
Facilities (OFFshore ITRH) during 2017 and 2018 as the five cutting-edge projects got underway.
Introduction
The world of offshore infrastructure has
changed. With the move to remote
locations and deeper water sites,
operators are looking at longer
pipelines, increased subsea
infrastructure, and larger floating
facilities on an ever increasing scale.
The Shell Prelude FLNG vessel on the
North West Shelf (NWS) of Western
Australia is a good example of this shift
and hence the need to focus on Collaboration! The ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Offshore
emerging engineering challenges Floating Facilities (OFFshore ITRH) team
associated with this change.
at UWA. This team brings a wealth of Partners and Collaborators
About technical experience to the activities of
the OFFshore ITRH, and are integrated The OFFshore ITRH industry partners
The OFFshore ITRH is a multi- within the larger ocean science and are Shell, Woodside Energy, Bureau
disciplinary research group jointly engineering community at UWA. Veritas and Lloyds Register. Each
funded by industry and the Australian partner organisation is actively involved
Research Council which was Research in shaping the research direction of
established to address some of these each project stream, committed to
key challenges. It was launched in Q2 The OFFshore ITRH involves five driving the technology transfer within
2016 with an aim to tackle the critical interlinked multi-disciplinary projects their company, and assisting with the
engineering challenges for the next in the areas of ocean forecasting, vessel mentorship of both researchers and
generation of offshore oil and gas motion and offloading, riser and mooring PhD students.
projects by creating novel designs, new design, novel anchors and subsea
technologies and new operating foundations, and data analytics for Our university partners include
procedures in a collaborative manner. response prediction and facility Western Sydney University and the
The clear focus of the OFFshore ITRH is longevity. Each project team is working University of Southampton. Broader
on making an impact rather than just to develop new technologies for collaborations have been formed with
creating output. the design of safe and efficient The Alan Turing Institute, BP and NGI,
offshore projects. with others being explored. This draws
Structure together knowledge and skills which
The research program involves a blend adds significant value to the OFFshore
The OFFshore ITRH is led by Shell Chair of physical and numerical modelling ITRH research.
Professor Phil Watson who works with supported by fieldwork and analysis of
a team of over 40 academic staff and observations from existing facilities
PhD students principally based in the (see opposite page for more details).
Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre
14 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Capabilities
The OFFshore ITRH is hosted at UWA by
the Oceans Graduate School. The
Offshore ITRH is expanding UWA’s
existing world-leading facilities in order
to deliver successful outcomes for the
wide-ranging research program. These
facilities include the National
Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility (NGCF),
UWA’s unique O-tube cyclone
simulation flume facilities, a newly
refurbished 50m long wave flume,
ocean data collection and analysis “The OFFshore Hub provides a unique “Two years in, the Offshore Hub
equipment, numerical modelling research environment with global is really hitting its stride. Our
facilities, as well as the Woodside recognition, demonstrating the value collaboration with UWA has produced
FutureLab OceanWorks. of accessible domain expertise, exciting innovations that have yielded
industry collaboration, and innovation significant value for our business, and
through cross discipline integration.” for the other industry partners”
Paul Gardner Jan Flynn
Industry Partner, Shell Industry Partner, Woodside
Project One: Metocean hazards from solitons
Quantifying soliton hazards on the North West Shelf by using high resolution
field observations to validate numerical models. Other aims include assessing
the spatial variability of solitons and tidally-forced flow, and their impact on
subsea infrastructure and operations.
Project Two: Wave-structure interaction
Using world class numerical modelling, experimental testing and full scale
measurements for the analysis of complex wave-structure interactions to
inform design and improve the efficiency of floating facility operations.
Project Three: Reliable moorings and risers
Developing new design tools to reduce design uncertainty and increase
the reliability of steel catenary risers, water intake risers, drilling risers
and mooring lines.
Project Four: Novel anchors and subsea foundation systems
Developing low-cost, low-risk subsea anchors and foundation solutions
which benefit from the consideration of whole-life behaviour.
Project Five: Floating facility data analytics for condition / longevity monitoring
Applying engineering statistics and modern data analytics to create ready to use
tools which enhance the facility whole-life performance across projects one to four.
Image: Woodside
oceans.uwa.edu.au 15HIGHLIGHTS
Image: Alex Kydd
A story of Sammy, sharks,
a blue planet and green seas
Her work with tiger sharks led an She explains that as part of the Sammy reports the first five days
OI PhD student to working with episode a BBC crew decided to went by without the crew – consisting
her idol in 2017 and she hasn’t head out to film “the vast seagrass of Shark Bay local and leader of the
looked back since. meadows” in Shark Bay. Shark Ark Project Leon, cameraman
Shayne, indigenous skipper Nick,
Some people are scared of sharks
“Firstly from an aerial perspective drone cameraman Dan and BBC
but for Australia Institute of Marine
and secondly, they were interested producer Kathryn Jeffs – seeing a
Science and former PhD student
in seeing the meadows from the single shark.
Sammy Andrzjaczek, they are beyond
perspective of their largest predator,
fascinating.
the tiger shark, and it was for that “I began to lose hope early on that
reason I was contacted,” she said. we would even see a tiger shark, let
Growing up snorkelling and surfing “As Shark Bay in WA has some of the alone tag one,” Sammy said. “Despite
in the pristine coastal waters of WA, biggest seagrass meadows in the this we were still seeing a lot of other
Sammy knew from an early age she world and a healthy population of cool marine life: countless dolphins,
was destined to be a marine biologist. tiger sharks, it was the perfect place dugongs, turtles, rays and other shark
But it was while completing her to attempt to get these shots. species. On one memorable day we
bachelor’s degree in Queensland, saw a fever of seven cowtail rays
that Sammy developed a love of all cruising in a line along the shore.”
“The goal was to tag a tiger
things sharks.
shark in order to record
On the sixth day the team got lucky,
Her honours thesis on whale sharks footage and information tagging “a beautiful, iridescent,
further cemented that fascination as it hunted in the seagrass roughly 4m female tiger shark”, with
and passion for field work. In 2015, meadows. It was a win-win the entire experience one Sammy
Sammy began her PhD at UWA, says she will never forget.
situation! It was an
examining the patterns and drivers of
vertical movements in sharks. opportunity I couldn’t miss. “I gained a lot of confidence during
David Attenborough has this trip about my own abilities in
In April 2017 this work continued with always been my idol, and to directing people, which would come
what Sammy described as one of in very useful for my own tagging trip
pass up the chance to help
her most exciting adventures to date at Ningaloo a month later,” she said.
when she worked with BBC Earth’s
out in a documentary he was “Grabbing this opportunity by the
Blue Planet II team on location in narrating would be passing horns turned out to be a decision which
Shark Bay, tagging sharks for the up the chance to live some of led to me ticking off some major boxes
‘Green Seas’ episode. my earliest career dreams.” from my career checklist, as well as
fulfilling some of my lifelong dreams.”
16 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Tagging Tiger
sharks in Ningaloo
Later in 2017, a successful
crowdfunding project enabled
Sammy (pictured right) to spend
a month in Ningaloo tagging tiger
sharks as part of her thesis.
Supervised by the OI’s Professor Chari
Pattiaratchi, along with Dr Adrian
Gleiss from Murdoch University and
AIMS and OI adjunct Dr Mark Meekan,
the research expedition deployed
the latest generation of tagging
technology to understand why Tiger
sharks move up and down in the water.
Tiger sharks are known to continuously
bounce dive through the water
column; however, whether this “At Ningaloo Reef they are top Tiger sharks are top predators
is for hunting, thermoregulation, predators, and regulate the structure in tropical and warm temperate
navigation or energy conservation of ecosystems through top-down ecosystems. Studying the patterns
remains unknown to scientists. On effects in the food chain. Once we and drivers of their vertical
the path to helping solve this mystery, have a better understanding of their movements will enable researchers
Sammy tagged 26 Tiger sharks and movements, we can help preserve the to help predict how tiger shark
collected numerous hours of video species and better understand the movements may fluctuate with a
footage and data. Ningaloo Reef system as a whole.” changing climate.
“Tiger sharks are among the The development of advanced Read more about Sammy’s shark
strangest-behaving sharks in our biologging tags with video cameras adventures at sammyshark.
oceans; they feed on everything from allows researchers to get a close wordpress.com
turtles to car tires, and continuously up and remote view of the sharks’
dive up and down,” Sammy said. behaviour. Understand their hunting
and movement strategies will help
scientists effectively manage Tiger
shark populations and understand
ecosystem dynamics.
Image: Alex Kydd
oceans.uwa.edu.au 17HIGHLIGHTS
Whale sharks don’t
like to venture too
far from home
Every year in March, juvenile male whale sharks arrive at Ningaloo Reef,
WA, supporting a thriving eco-tourism industry. But where do they go in
July once they leave this meeting site?
The OI’s PhD researcher Sammy From the comparison, the team was
Andrzejacek was among a team of able to identify about 1000 individual
researchers investigating where male whale sharks, of which 35 per cent were
juvenile sharks mysteriously disappear seen at the same site in more than one
to. The joint research, conducted by the year, and none of which were found to
OI and the Australian Institute of Marine move across the Indian Ocean. Previous
Science, involved a large-scale studies up to now have suggested that
photo-identification study to assess sharks in these different aggregations
the seasonal habits of whale sharks in from one population, implying that
the tropics. animals are moving between these
sites. However, no direct evidence for
The study, published in Royal Society these movements exists.
Open Science, suggests they actually
don’t go far at all. By comparing Only one shark was tracked between
identification photos of whale sharks in Mozambique and the Seychelles,
a collaborative study across the Indian suggesting that regional links do occur;
Ocean, the analysis determined that however; on a larger scale, populations
juvenile males appear to return to the appear to be isolated and distinct. In
same sites year after year. comparison, females and adult male
whale sharks were rarely spotted at
Whale sharks form these sites, so it was prepositioned
that they aren’t homebodies like the
aggregations off tropical
young males.
coasts around the world due
to the seasonal pulses in the Sammy said there is still more
abundance of their food. In research needed to improve our
understanding of the regional
the Indian Ocean, these occur
movements of these animals.
at Ningaloo Reef as well in
the Maldives, off the coast “A computer simulation analysis study
of Mozambique, and in the of our data indicated we need to
Seychelles. increase the number of study sites and
photos taken to get an estimate of their
migration pattern at larger scales,”
she said.
The joint research pro
place in Western Aus
stunning Ningaloo Re
18 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Did you know?
Whale sharks are the A whale shark’s mouth Whale sharks have
largest fish in the sea can be up to 1.5m wide. around 3000 tiny teeth
reaching sizes of more less than 6mm long.
than 12 metres! However, being filter
feeders, they don’t use
their teeth to eat.
oject took
stralia’s
eef area.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 19HIGHLIGHTS
Postdoctoral researchers put
scholarships to great use for
our oceans
In 2017, four postdoctoral scholarships were awarded with the
support of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
and one with the support of the CSIRO, all leading to a better
understanding of the marine environment.
and around anthropogenic structures She is currently assessing the
(offshore wind, wave and tide), oil and biodiversity on and around oil and
gas infrastructure. gas infrastructure (oil platforms and
pipelines) to determine whether their
In the past, Marie-Lise has studied the ecological value would warrant making
life-history characteristics of small a case for keeping them underwater at
gobies, the value of detritus as a food the end of their commercial life. As part
item to territorial damselfish, and of this, she is using remotely operated
sponges and their associated microbes. vehicle (ROV) imagery provided by
industry partners and carrying out
Marie-Lise Schlappy With an interest in marine citizen visual and semi-automated analyses of
the marine sessile invertebrates (such
science, Marie-Lise has worked for
as coral, sponges and mussels) on the
A research associate at UWA and AIMS, citizen science NGOs in the Philippines
infrastructure to compare them to
the focus of Dr Marie-Lise Schlappy’s and Australia and has been on the
those in nearby natural communities.
work is on the biodiversity of marine science advisory board of Reef Check
sessile invertebrate assemblages on Australia for several years.
morphology and bio-physical processes, Andrew received a Bachelor of
Andrew seeks to understand and draw Engineering degree with honours from
inspiration from the marine environment The University of Melbourne. After
to find new solutions to a wide range of several years working for a consulting
coastal problems. engineering firm, he undertook graduate
studies with a consortium of European
Andrew commenced as a postdoctoral Universities and attained the degree of
research associate in 2017 to investigate Master of Coastal and Marine Engineering
the impact imposed on different forms and Management (CoMEM) cum laude.
of ecosystem and food production
aquaculture by the physical
Andrew Pomeroy environment. And also, how the
introduction of these different forms
A coastal oceanographer and engineer of aquaculture into the marine
whose research is at the interface of environment affects the receiving
engineering, coastal oceanography, physical environment.
20 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Sharyn Hickey Luke Thomas Lucy Robinson (CSIRO)
Sharyn Hickey’s postdoctoral research Postdoctoral scholar Luke Thomas’ Lucy’s research is focused on
at UWA and AIMS involves applying research focuses on reef-building integrating and applying theory and
remote sensing and spatial data to corals and combines genomic and knowledge from social and community
ecological studies in the shallow transcriptomic tools with physiological psychology, social cognition, political
marine and intertidal environment. Her and ecological data on projects related science and governance and regulation
particular focus is on the spatial and to gene flow, adaption, recovery and to better understand and measure
temporal dynamics of these habitats ecosystem monitoring. what drives social acceptance of (and
and understanding what is driving support for) decisions involving natural
change, how this affects ecosystem A research associate at the OI and AIMS, resources.
services, and how to apply innovative Luke has a background in population
technology to manage and monitor genetics and has worked on a variety of With a background in quantitative
these areas. marine organisms, from sponges to ecology, natural resource management
fish. The ultimate goal of his and decision support, Lucy has
Sharyn’s research includes applying postdoctoral research is to apply developed and applied a range of
spatial analysis techniques to molecular techniques to help inform quantitative models and qualitative
ecological studies, including mangrove management on the quest to conserve methods that integrate ecological
dieback, blue carbon assessments, and our precious marine ecocsystems. findings with stakeholder values and/or
anthropogenic impacts on seagrass community knowledge to deliver results
and coral. Born in Melbourne, but raised in that address specific management and
California, Luke completed his policy demands – primarily relating to
Prior to commencing her current undergraduate degree in climate change and fisheries.
position, Sharyn graduated from the Environmental Science at the
University of Sydney with a Bachelor of University of San Diego. Shortly after After her undergraduate degree at UWA,
Marine Science (Hons) and then went completion, Luke moved to Indonesia Lucy worked at the University of
on to work in the spatial sciences, while for six months to gain research Melbourne as a Research Assistant
expanding her interest in the marine experience before moving to before starting her PhD at the
environment through recreational Wellington in New Zealand to do a University of Queensland with support
diving and various field internships. Masters’ of Science in population from the CSIRO Climate Adaptation
Sharyn then attained her PhD, which genetics on the southern red rock Flagship. Lucy then worked at the
focussed on utilising remote sensing to lobster, Jasus edwardsii. University of Tasmania and
investigate mangrove biomass and Commission for the Conservation of
carbon spatial and temporal dynamics After completing that, Luke moved to Antarctic Marine Living Resources
at Ningaloo, at UWA supported by the Perth to complete a PhD on coral before her current position with UWA
CSIRO Flagship Marine and Coastal genetics with a focus on the Houtman and CSIRO.
Carbon Biogeochemical Cluster. Abrolhos Islands. After submitting his
PhD, he moved back to California for
two years for a postdoc position in
California with Professor Stephen
Palumbi at Stanford, before returning
to the OI in November 2017 to take up
his current role.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 21HIGHLIGHTS
The oral history of
our ocean environment
The important role of oral history in the study of our ocean of such limits. The ambivalence of
environment and how it is being employed for a range of purposes the interviewees towards their past
were the focus of a paper co-authored by the OI’s Associate actions, suggest these limits are now
Professor Gaynor with Joy McCann in 2017. firmly embedded, not only in law but
also culturally in some instances.
The paper explored how the oral component was designed to provide
histories of fishers and divers an indication of how the local “When people talked about the history
can be read as narratives about community perceives change and of fishing and diving in the region,
human relationships with an ocean continuity in the marine and coastal they told stories about their intimate
environment. The authors propose environments of the region within connections with the undersea
that such narratives can play a role living memory. The team also wanted environment, their relationship
in fostering human capacity to live to record some of the experiences of with marine life and their feelings of
ethically in and with the marine world. local fishers and divers. excitement and sadness about past
fishing practices.
“What distinguishes oral history from Between late 2005 and early 2006,
other forms of history is its ability to Amrit Kendrick for the UWA project “While ocean scientists and resources
convey how the past ‘felt’ and what it team conducted oral history managers tend to focus on the rational
means to those who experienced it,” interviews with 15 fishers (recreational and utilitarian motivations, it is the
Associate Professor Gaynor said. “It and commercial) and a dive operator, ethical and emotive dimensions of
can offer deeply personal, yet often focusing on their activities around the experience, as revealed so powerfully
shared, insights into the particularity region. Each interviewee had at least through oral histories, that have the
of past physical environments in a way 20 years of experience, collectively ability to shape the way in which
that makes sense in the present.” representing a wealth of knowledge. fishers and divers develop an ocean
consciousness and respond to
Back in 2006, researchers at UWA “Their oral histories included stories environmental changes in the marine
undertook an oral history project about taking too many fish, revealing environment,” Associate Professor
associated with a benchmark scientific a sense of ambivalence towards their Gaynor said.
study on marine communities of the actions in the past. Recording their
south west capes – a region of WA
which extends from Geographe Bay
memories of why they took what they
now regard as ‘too much’ was valuable
“In listening closely
around Cape Naturaliste to Cape for two main reasons. Firstly, their to people who have
Leeuwin. memories illustrate changing ideas of
acceptable or ‘good’ fishing practices.
long and intimate
The region was the subject of a state Secondly, they provide some insight experience of the
government proposal to establish a
marine park (subsequently declared
into the subjective experience of
unconstrained fishing,” Associate
underwater world,
in 2012), and the proposal gave rise Professor Gaynor said. we can begin
to considerable tensions among
stakeholders because of different and “Their memories also tell us what
to understand
conflicting interests in the marine it was like for professional fishers the emotional
environment. operating in a context in which fish
were raw material for the taking,
and experiential
The scientific study involved sonar with few cultural or legal limits dimensions of
mapping of the seafloor and a
biological survey using conventional
on their harvest and no rewards
for self-control. Since the times
different kinds of
sampling techniques and an of simply taking fish ‘because you fishing practices.”
underwater video. The oral history could’, we have seen the emergence
22 The University of Western AustraliaHIGHLIGHTS
Researchers collecting
data on allied male
bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiop aduncus)
in Shark Bay, WA
Dolphin name games Image: Simon Allen /
Dolphin Alliance Project
In June 2018, UWA researchers “This is an unusual finding as it is very “Cooperative behaviours are actually
announced they had discovered common for pairs or groups of animals found throughout the animal kingdom,”
that bottlenose dolphins can to make their calls more similar when Dr King said. “From small birds
retain individual vocal labels, or they share strong social bonds. This collectively dive-bombing a predator to
‘names’, to help recognise friends can be seen in some parrots, bats, drive it away, to ants teaming up to
and rivals in their social network, elephants and primates, and carry a large piece of food – that’s not
much like humans. represents a means of advertising the new. But the question is how they’re
strength of their relationships and their doing it. Are they simply acting
The discovery paints a picture of the group membership” Dr King said. individually in the same place and time,
social intelligence of dolphins whereby or do they actually understand that
no other non-human animals have “However with male bottlenose they need their partner, and actively
been found to retain an individual dolphins, it’s the opposite – each male coordinate with them?”
‘name’ when they form long-term retains a unique call, even though they
cooperative partnerships with develop incredibly strong bonds with To find out, the researchers created a
one another. one another.” task in which pairs of dolphins had to
swim across a lagoon and each press
Scientists from UWA, University of “The next step will be to study the their own underwater button
Zurich and the University of males’ relationships with one another simultaneously (within a one-second
Massachusetts, studied 17 well-known more closely,” Dr King said. “It will be time window), whether sent together or
adult male dolphins in Shark Bay, WA, interesting to reveal whether all with a delay between partners of up to
where males are known for their cooperative relationships within 20 seconds.
formation of alliances. These bonds alliances are equal or not.
are as strong as those between Dr Kelly Jaakkola, of the Dolphin
mothers and calves and the friendships The study is published in Current Biology Research Center in the Florida Keys,
can last entire lifetimes. and supported by grants from the said the researchers wanted to find out
National Geographic Society, the Swiss whether the dolphin sent first would
Researchers collected recordings of National Science Foundation and The wait for the other dolphin before pressing
the dolphins’ vocalisations using Branco Weiss Fellowship. its button and whether they could
underwater microphones and figure out a way to coordinate precisely
determined the individual vocal label Dolphins also cooperate enough to press at the same time.
of each male. They then measured the with each other
similarity of these identity signals The results of the study, published in
within and between other alliances to Then in September 2018, came a Proceedings of the Royal Society B,
see whether males that had stronger further study from Dr King and the showed the dolphins not only waited
social relationships had unique vocal United States-based Dolphin Research for their partner, but also succeeded
labels or not. Center which showed that bottlenose at the task with extreme precision,
dolphins not only cooperate with each with the time between button presses
The OI’s Dr Stephanie King, from UWA’s other, but can do so with precise in the latter trials averaging just
Centre for Evolutionary Biology, said behavioural coordination never before 370 milliseconds.
they discovered male dolphins retain demonstrated in nonhuman animals.
individual vocal labels that allow them The study was supported by grants
to track their cooperative partners, from Jim and Marjorie Sanger and
their competitors and help form The Branco Weiss Fellowship.
fascinating multi-level alliances.
oceans.uwa.edu.au 23You can also read
