Highlights AIMS @ JCu – A model partnership The joint venture agreement between AIMS and James Cook University JCU) is now one year old, and with the investment in infrastructure, appointment of management, awarding of scholarships to AIMS @ JCU post-graduate research students, and enhanced research collaboration, it is steadily gaining momentum. Bringing together in a formal research relationship, organisations with a long history of collaboration on marine issues, AIMS @ JCU is an unprecedented opportunity for Australia to continue to build capability in tropical marine science. The partnership builds on the largest concentration of tropical marine scientists in the world and is furthering both the development of Townsville as a world-class centre of excellence for research and teaching in marine science, and Australia as the world leader in tropical marine science. The Australian government has provided $3.9 million towards facilitating the AIMS @ JCU. A significant aspect of the joint venture was the commissioning of a state-of-the-art fibre-optic communication link between the AIMS and JCU facilities that enables ‘virtual’ in-lab collaborations, and also improves interactive relationships with other universities. AIMS CEO Dr Ian Poiner, James Cook University Vice Chancellor Professor Bernard Moulden and JCU student Neal Cantin (AIMS @ JCU postgraduate student) in a laboratory at AIMS. Photo: T.Simmonds The link will allow the transfer of field observations from ‘digital skins’, or sensors, back to the data centre as they happen. This is cutting-edge technology that will revolutionise north Queensland’s marine research capacity. The appointment of a Board, an Executive Officer and part-time administrator has moved the collaboration from concept to working reality. Work is now focused on the joint venture’s first two programmes, Aquaculture and Coastal Processes and Marine Modelling. Aquaculture facilities at AIMS are being enhanced, and five post-graduate research scholarships have been awarded.

November 20, 2005