Dive in: why marine science is an exciting field to work in

For National Science Week we put some of our awesome scientists who are near the beginning of their career, under a microscope to discover what they love about science and what inspired them to work in marine science.

On the frontier of knowledge

The National Sea Simulator, based at our headquarters near Townsville, is the world’s most advanced research aquarium facility. It enables large, long-term experiments for scientists to research how complex environmental changes will affect corals and other tropical marine organisms. The longest experiment has been running for nearly ten years!

Maintaining the systems and caring for the corals that are part of this experiment, and others, is a team of aquarists. 

Benjamin Mance was inspired to work in science after watching the blockbuster “Jurassic Park”. But instead of breeding and rearing dinosaurs, he’s doing it with corals.

Pursuing his interest in science, Ben studied biology and earth and environmental science at high school and university, before focusing on a master’s in aquaculture, eventually drilling down to work in coral reproduction and broodstock care. 

“In science, you’re able to pick something that you’re interested in and try to get as much information out of it as you can. You’re on the frontier of life and human knowledge,” said Ben. “That’s what makes science really cool.”

Rowing in the same direction to better understand the ocean

A key moment in life for many who work as a marine biologist is that first time they dive in and see the underwater world.  When Molly-Mae Baker, an AIMS@UWA marine science graduate, was 15 years old she learnt to scuba dive. The intricate coral reefs and diverse marine life that surrounded her, roused a thirst for knowledge about the ocean, the reefs and how they function. 

It was also the first time she came across the term coral bleaching. “My dive instructor was explaining the impacts that human activities can have on the ocean, and I really think it was from this point forward that I wanted to become a marine scientist to try and find solutions to the problems our oceans are facing,” said Molly-Mae.

As a keen scuba diver, Molly-Mae loves spending time in the field. Earlier this year she joined a team of scientists from AIMS and The University of Western Australia who ventured hundreds of kilometres off the Kimberley coast to survey remote tropical reefs. Satellite monitoring at the isolated Ashmore and Scott Reefs indicated that heat stress had been building to levels associated with coral bleaching and mortality early in the summer.  However, the scientists observed little or no coral bleaching, likely due to a series of cyclones and storms between February and April that cooled waters.  

Molly-Mae said that seeing the impacts of climate change and other human pressures on the ocean, can be challenging when you’re passionate about the ocean. 

“But at the same time, it’s incredibly inspiring and hopeful to work with so many other marine scientists who are all dedicated to protecting and better understanding the ocean.”

Despite getting to dive in and research coral reefs, it is the collaborative nature of science that Molly-Mae loves most. 

Making sense of the small things in marine science to have an impact

Not all marine scientists get their hair wet. 

AIMS researcher, Keegan Vickers, spends his time in a lab focusing on the smaller things in the ocean – microplastics. Whilst less than 5 mm in size, microplastics are attracting global concern due to the threat they pose to marine life and ecosystems. 

“Macro debris is a major issue facing our ocean ecosystem, however what about the debris we can’t see? By studying microplastics we’re able to figure out how these macro debris are breaking up, not down, and affecting organisms that call the marine environment home,” he said.

Keegan loves marine science because of “the impact that can be made every day,” and making sense of these tiny infiltrators is sure to have an impact.

Another scientist who is looking at the finer details is coral geneticist, Dr Holland Elder.

Corals are the building blocks of reef structures. Their skeleton grows in many different shapes and form the hard surface of the reef which provides food and shelter to many reef animals and plants. However, these diverse habitats are under pressure from rapidly changing environmental conditions. 

Holland is looking at the genetics of coral to help scientists understand how corals may respond or adapt to pressures, and help reefs survive into the future. 

“Researching the genetics of corals helps us understand how their genes affect coral reproduction, evolution and adaptation over time. This has flow on effects and influences what the Reef may look like in future, which will then impact the people who depend on the Reef. That is what makes marine science great to me, using my genetics expertise to solve real world problems.” 

Love science but not a scientist? You can still work in science

Mechanical engineering may not seem like a career choice that would lead to working in science. The same could be said for communicators, lawyers or accountants. But at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, many skills are needed to support the world-leading science and research that is being undertaken. 

De’vereux Harvey, a marine mechanical engineer, found a way to combine her maths and physics skills with her passion for the ocean. 

“I grew up loving the ocean and tried scuba diving for the first time when I was 14. However, I was a maths and physics person, so engineering seemed like a more natural field for me. After five years working in different fields, I decided to go back to university and start a PhD in fluid mechanics to combine my skills and interests.”

What De’vereux loves most about science, and marine science in particular, is that there is so much to learn. “The ocean is a beautiful yet incredibly complex and dynamic environment, and many of its processes are not fully understood. There is a great deal to explore and discover.”

Key to understanding reef processes is data collected from monitoring activities that can be used to determine trends and status of coral reefs. ReefScan, which De’vereux helps design underwater cameras for, is an automated marine monitoring system designed by AIMS, that translates field data into comprehensive information about the state and health of critical marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs. The ReefScan technology is being used by scientists in Vietnam and the Philippines.

At the Australian Institute of Marine Science we have passionate and talented people from around Australia and the world. Our dedicated teams work across northern Australia to expand our knowledge into Australia’s tropical waters and develop globally relevant and innovative research solutions.