Marine and Maritime Capabilities

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1 Marine and Maritime Capabilities

2 Our research The University of Tasmania occupies a unique position in Australia s higher education sector. Recognised as a world-class, research-intensive university in an island setting, we have the exclusive capacity to create system-wide solutions to the most significant challenges facing Australia and the world. We are committed to undertaking research that produces cutting-edge knowledge that creates the foundation for outstanding student experiences. We maintain strong collaborations with government agencies, private sectors and community organisations to generate and sustain powerful research. Our research creates impact in our community and in the student experience. 2 Marine and Maritime Capabilities The island of Tasmania provides an ideal and largely contained system in which to understand the multi-faceted nature of complex modern challenges, to propose and implement solutions with our partners, and to assess the real impact of these solutions.

3 Research theme: Marine, Antarctic and Maritime Australia is a marine nation an island continent with the world s third largest ocean territory. This marine estate is much larger than the terrestrial land mass and more than 70 per cent of our sovereign territory lies beneath the ocean. Australia extracts substantial economic benefit from its marine territory, estimated at AUD$44 billion a year and growing. We have a variable climate that is strongly influenced by the surrounding oceans. Our population is concentrated in temperate coastal regions, with almost 90 per cent of inhabitants living in major coastal cities and surrounding inner-regional areas. We are the custodians of marine biodiversity assets with globally significant conservation value which, unlike any other country, range from the high tropics to Antarctica. Tasmania is the island state of this marine nation, and we have made a strong contribution in creating and training participants in a long seafaring tradition. A place of outstanding natural beauty, it has a small population and a regional economy that is challenged by the impacts of globalisation. Tasmania is an ideal laboratory in which to study the oceans climates and climate variability, marine biodiversity and ecosystems, sustainable marine industries, and maritime transport all of which have local, national and global significance. Added to this, Tasmania is Australia s gateway to Antarctica and aspires to become a major hub for growing international interest in the Antarctic continent. It has a unique role in marine and maritime research, training and technology. As the southern skies have provided Australian astronomers with a natural advantage that attracts tremendous international collaboration, the Southern Ocean provides this for our marine, maritime and Antarctic scientists into the future. Our University is uniquely placed to answer fundamental questions such as: How do we sustainably use the ocean while protecting the marine environment and its ecosystems? How can we understand, predict and adapt to oceanic and cryospheric change? How can we contribute to the creation of a transformational ocean future? Marine and Maritime Capabilities 3

4 KEY FACTS Top QS World University Rankings rank our Earth and Marine Sciences within the world s top The number of joint appointments (mostly from other departments at University of Tasmania and government research organisations CSIRO and Australian Antarctic Division). AUD$175 million The external research grants to the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and Australian Maritime College. AUD$47 million facility grants to the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and the Integrated Marine Observing System. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) is a critical part of the University s strategic goal to be ranked among the top echelon of research-led universities in Australia and the world. IMAS focuses on temperate marine, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic research, and was established to address global marine challenges 1,318 Number of Undergraduate students. 263 Number of Postgraduate students. 126 The number of our core faculty. 50 Number of PhD students currently studying. 30 Number of University of Tasmania staff that are Academicians of Australia s Learned Academies. 29 Number of Nature Publishing Group and Science papers from 2010-present. 12 Number of Nature and Science papers from 2010-present. by taking a whole-of-system approach to research, education, and outreach. Since formation from a group of smaller centres in 2010, IMAS has tripled in size, with a current annual budget of AUD$50 million, 190 staff, and 185 PhD students from fifteen countries around the world, working with state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities. IMAS is focused on three core research themes: Oceans & Cryosphere, Ecology & Biodiversity, and Fisheries & Aquaculture. 4 Marine and Maritime Capabilities

5 IMAS Ecology and Biodiversity The IMAS Ecology & Biodiversity Centre conducts a broad spectrum of research and teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, with significant research in areas of: Ocean acidification Ocean warming Effects of multiple anthropogenic stressors on marine systems Harmful algal blooms Marine conservation Assessment and management of water quality IMAS Oceans and Crysophere The IMAS Ocean and Crysophere Centre conducts research in: Physical oceanography Biogeochemistry Marine/Antarctic geoscience. The Centre s academics are strongly engaged with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change (CLIVAR); the International Ocean Discovery Program; and the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans. Antarctic geoscientists focus on researching interactions involving the solid earth of Antarctica, the overlying ice sheet, and the surrounding Southern Ocean. Our geoscientists are lead researchers in the ARC Antarctic Gateway Partnership Special Research Initiative. Assessment of marine management approaches (e.g. marine protected areas) Tracking local and global movements of fishes, marine mammals, and seabirds Assessment of the role of top predators in marine systems Determining the dynamics of marine ecosystems in temperate, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic waters Modelling ecosystem dynamics and ecosystem services (e.g. fish production) Predicting phase shifts in marine ecosystems Biodiversity prediction. Much of the research involves international collaborations tackling issues at global scales. Faculty staff undertake most of the specialist marine teaching in the Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science and coursework Master of Marine and Antarctic Science, and also teach components of the CSIRO-University of Tasmania PhD Program in Quantitative Marine Science (QMS) and the Australian Antarctic Marine and Maritime Capabilities 5

6 Division-University of Tasmania PhD Program in Quantitative Antarctic Science (QAS). The QMS and QAS programs are unique among PhD programs in Australia in providing targeted quantitative training for elite students across analytical and modelling techniques, ecology, physical oceanography, fisheries, management strategy evaluation, biogeochemistry, remote sensing, and ice sheet modelling and other quantitative approaches to study of the cryosphere. The Antarctic Gateway Partnership has numerous PhD scholarships available in the areas of: Cryosphere-ocean interaction Open water and under ice food webs Solid earth-cryosphere interaction Marine technology and polar environments. IMAS, along with CSIRO and Rhodes University in South Africa, host a Marine Hotspots Network which focuses on impacts and adaptations in the fastest warming regions globally as these are seen as being the world s early warning systems. The South Pacific Integrated Ecosystems Studies (SPICES) is focused on the rim countries of Australia, NZ, Chile, Peru, Columbia and Ecuador and the University has a number of Latin American PhD students. The Centre for Marine Socioecology, a joint initiative between the University, CSIRO and the Australian Antarctic Division, is also ideally placed to address many of the issues facing countries in the use of its marine estate. IMAS Fisheries & Aquaculture The IMAS Fisheries & Aquaculture Centre delivers focused research, education and training, in the areas of: Animal performance Aquaculture innovation Aquatic animal health, biosecurity, and welfare Ecosystem effects and interactions Fisheries recruitment dynamics Global seafood trends Management systems Recreational and traditional fisheries. The Centre aspires to international research excellence and leadership. Much of its work is carried out through collaborative projects and the Centre actively seeks to partner with the best researchers and institutions globally. IMAS Scientific Research facilities Research at IMAS is supported by its world-class facilities: Algal Laboratory: Facilities containing seven Climate Controlled rooms (CT-rooms, 0-30 C) for algal culture and experimentation. A specialized CT-room is available for experimentation on atmospheric gas mediated changes in oceanic ph. Wet Laboratory: Facilities are structured for research into marine biodiversity and ecology, this laboratory includes CT-rooms for maintaining live zooplankton cultures, as well as wet and dry processing areas. The research laboratories are certified Quarantine Approved 6 Marine and Maritime Capabilities

7 Premises subject to strict Federal Government quarantine protocols. Ice Core Laboratory: Facilities including a -20 C ice core processing facility, large freezer rooms for ice core storage and glaciology experimentation. Chemistry Laboratory: Analytical facilities including five positive pressure clean rooms for marine geochemistry analyses, a carbon chemistry laboratory, and general chemistry laboratory. PCR thermal cyclers for DNA amplification, and a broad range of laboratory and field instrumentation. Teaching is enhanced through an audio-visual system connected to microscopes and computers at the lecturer s station. The laboratory space facilitates teaching a range of units from molecular biology to marine ecology. Teaching Laboratory: Flexible space, also used for research, holding up to 60 students, and serviced with reticulated ultrapure water (Type 1), filtered/sterilized seawater, nitrogen, compressed gas, and vacuum throughout. Laminar flow cabinets, fume cabinets, drying ovens, and a large-room are also available. Teaching resources include 60 compound microscopes, 60 stereo microscopes, Marine and Maritime Capabilities 7

8 Aquarium: facilities including a stateof-the-art seawater treatment for larval marine animals; full larval rearing support facilities including brood stock holding, live feeds, and workshops; six large rooms for work on marine animals with state-of-the-art tank systems for replications (flexible space with systems/experiments running at any one time); and quarantine facilities for work on exotic species. Experimental Aquaculture: facilities featuring recirculation technology for research on large marine finfish (3 x 15,000L tanks; 12 x 7,000L tanks, 12 x 3,000L tanks). Primary species to be investigated are rock lobsters, marine finfish, oysters, seahorses, prawns, burramundi and Atlantic salmon. Seagoing Research Capabilities: comprising a fleet of seven coastal research boats. Other: facilities including boat & diving facilities, workshops, a caged area for wild fish, an aquarium building, algal and live feeds, nutrition and feed preparation laboratories, analytical laboratories, environmental chemistry facilities, ecology and aquaculture facilities, a histology laboratory, and a wild fish processing area. Seafood Laboratories: comprising an aquatic animal health laboratory, a molecular/ endocrinology laboratory, nutrition and feed preparation laboratories, ecology laboratories, a general research laboratory, and two teaching laboratories. Wild Fish: facilities including raw seawater tank systems for rock lobsters, sharks, octopus, and other marine animals. 8 Marine and Maritime Capabilities

9 Australian Maritime College Globally recognised, internationally acclaimed and one of the founding members for the International Association of Maritime Universities, the Australian Maritime College (AMC) is a centre for excellence in maritime education, training and research. The AMC s multi-million suite of specialist teaching, learning and research facilities are utilised by government bodies and maritime related businesses world-wide. AMC s specialist facilities are designed to enhance learning and research in the areas of maritime engineering and hydrodynamics, ports and shipping, maritime business and international logistics. The AMC is home to a number of world-class training and research centres: The Centre for Maritime Simulations Emergency Response Centre National Hydrodynamics Research Centre. Centre for Maritime Simulations The Centre for Maritime Simulations offers realtime maritime simulation technology that includes a full-mission ship s bridge, a tug simulator and six ship operations bridges. It is used for research and investigation into port development, ship manoeuvring, and improving ship and port safety and efficiency. The simulator database includes most Australian and New Zealand ports, as well as areas of Europe, Malaysia, and Indonesia. AMC also provides regular pilot simulation training to maritime organisations such as TasPorts, Newcastle Ports Corporation, Rio Tinto, Port Kembla, Southport (NZ), TT Line, Woodside Energy and Port Nelson. AMC s Centre for Maritime Simulations Centre is comprised of: Integrated Marine Simulator (IMS) comprising a Shiphandling Simulator with full-scale ship s bridge and 270 visuals and a Ship Operations Simulator with six own-ship cubicles each with 120 visuals. Machinery Space Simulators Tug Simulator/ Reality Centre Emergency Response Centre The Emergency Response Centre includes survival centre; marine firefighting; damage control and fast rescue boat training. Marine and Maritime Capabilities 9

10 National Hydrodynamics Research Centre The Australian Maritime Hydrodynamics Research Centre (AMHRC) is a major research facility and encompasses: Model test basin & towing tank Cavitation research laboratory Circulating water channel Diesel spray test facility Computer cluster The AMC also hosts an impressive fleet of training vessels. Underpinning research into the broad range of factors that affect port and vessel management are a suite of simulation facilities, training vessels and engineering workshops. AMC Research and practical teaching facilities AMC s Towing Tank and the AMC Model Test Basin encompass a range of activities, including: Educational laboratory sessions for AMC undergraduate students. Experimental test programs for AMC researchers and visiting researchers from other Australian and overseas institutions. Commercial consultancy projects. Maintenance and continual equipment development. Preliminary ship performance predictions using numerical techniques. Analysis and advice. Model construction services. Cavitation Research Laboratory: unique in Australia, and one of the few experimental cavitation laboratories in the world, it is used to test hydrodynamic behaviour of submerged structures such as submarines and ship hulls. Plays a key role when providing research and advice on the future development of submarines, destroyers, patrol boats and other maritime vessels. Advanced Computer Cluster: advanced Sun Grid Engine queuing system; Ganglia web based monitoring system, allowing fast and informed response to system problems; Redhat Enterprise Linux with KDE and Gnome desktops for easier user interface. MV Bluefin: 35m flagship training vessel provides for studies on board including habitat monitoring, fish sampling, fishing technology, machinery operation and maintenance, 10 Marine and Maritime Capabilities

11 environmental assessment, oceanographic instrument mooring, and ship design and function. Autonomous Underwater Vehicle: offers robotic capability for under-ice sampling and broad scale measurements that capture horizontal variability, supporting a range of research activities in the areas of benthic ecology, marine geoscience, marine archaeology and robotics sciences in collaboration with institutions around Australia and overseas. Hosted national facilities The University of Tasmania also hosts two national facilities: the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC). IMOS is a national collaboration that deploys ocean-observing equipment throughout Australia s vast ocean territory. All of its data is available for research and teaching in the marine, climate and Antarctic sciences through a sophisticated access network. ACE CRC is Australia s primary vehicle for understanding the role of the Antarctic region in the global climate system, and the implications for marine ecosystems. Our purpose is to provide governments and industry with accurate, timely and actionable information on climate change and its likely impacts. Marine and Maritime Capabilities 11

12 Professor Richard Coleman Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaborations and Infrastructure) Phone: Richard.Coleman@utas.edu.au Professor Peter Frappell Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) Phone: Peter.Frappell@utas.edu.au CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B UTMC15210rj utas.edu.au/research